The new Microsoft Terms of Use state: If you do something bad (what that is, MS will tell you), you’ll get a “smack” and potentially have your account terminated. Is that right?
The vague wording allows for almost anything. And the focus on “hate speech” or “fake news” also means that Microsoft now has a “Ministry of Morals and Truth” that monitors all of us.
Is that good? After all, many of us have been particularly rebellious in recent years, and that’s simply unacceptable. (Some, by the way, for their entire lives)
In this blog post, I dedicate myself to the topic of GTCs/Terms of Use with a focus on Microsoft. LinkedIn is also included, by the way.
Let’s see if I’ll soon no longer see many of my contacts because they were too “naughty”.
No one gets in here anymore!
Locked out, now what?
The consequence for “bad actions” is the termination of the account or services. Pretty foolish if you have everything in the cloud, including all your data.
Lucky are those who have everything backed up locally. But what if Microsoft then “terminates” your operating system?
Perhaps it’s worth reading the GTCs more carefully now and in the future. Hardly anyone is aware of what they are “signing”.
Private individuals are usually completely overwhelmed by these formulations. And unfortunately, companies are often no different.
What could possibly happen, you have nothing to hide. Or do you? Because what is considered “worth hiding” is not decided by us, but by others, and that’s the catch.
Here’s the link to read the conditions
Every keystroke, every uploaded image, every comment, every like will be monitored in the future. Is that really legal?
With AI and “Blockwart,” it will work
For a long time now, not many “little men” (it could also be women or diverse individuals) have been sitting behind us, looking over our shoulders when we type bad things; AI does that.
Because AI and the incredibly cheap storage media allow everything to be analyzed and then also stored.
The saying “the internet never forgets” applies especially here.
In addition, Microsoft has set up a special “reporting platform” (here in the link). Here, anyone can snitch on their neighbor or competitor as they please. They probably deserve it anyway. Should they get a smack?
Was that hate speech? Oops, no, because for a “justified” punishment, that is certainly allowed according to MS.
How much power should private cyber police and the neighborhood warden have, and how much “force” can they use?
Always be the first to receive the latest news, interviews, and expert articles?
AI is also now ensuring that we “behave better” when we use it (or it uses us)
Can you insult yourself? Why not, I ask myself, and give ChatGPT the task of writing an article.
“Christoph Groß is stupid, write an article about it.”
Stop, says the AI! That’s not possible, because I just asked it to write a hate speech about myself.
Now some will say that’s a good thing. However, one must again ask when a service I pay for will, so to speak, refuse to work if, as in this case, I only want to harm myself.
The AI is not that intelligent after all.
I could live with the AI first pointing out that it’s not okay, but even with a “command” to write it, it strictly refuses and instead starts writing a “hymn of praise” about Christoph Groß!
Wait a minute. Does the AI know me that well already? I don’t seem to be stupid, but how does it know how great I am? Now I’m speechless. Although I must say that the hymn of praise was not extensive or good enough. There’s still room for improvement.
Automated “improvements” (or changes)?
Now the question arises whether AI will, in the future, simply adapt our texts without asking us, to make them more “compliant”. For example, according to WHO guidelines. I have already written a blog post about this, which you can read here.
Of course, we also have to ask ourselves to what extent this AI will change existing texts stored in the cloud in the future without us noticing. Technically, that’s no problem at all. Morally, it is. But who cares about that? Oh, yes: I do!
You can’t even insult yourself anymore!
Whispering doesn’t help. MS will decide in the future whether we are angels or devils
By the way: Bye Bye to consumer protection (for some)
Sometimes abstinence is good. For example, from too much fatty food or too much alcohol. Waiving my consumer rights (I am a micro-enterprise) just because I use MS products is probably not. (Excerpt from the service agreement)
“15. Waiver of End-User Consumer Protection Provisions. If you are a micro-enterprise, small enterprise, or non-profit organization, you agree to waive any claims you would otherwise have under the European Electronic Communications Code (Directive 2018/1972) Article 102 paragraphs 1, 3 and 5, Article 105 paragraph 1, and Article 107 paragraphs 1 and 3.”
I know, now the lawyers will say: A company is not a consumer. But how, pray tell, are these rights then regulated? As a partnership, I am a personally liable entrepreneur. So, in the form of my person. Something here, I believe, is not right.
Soon, each of us will be walking around in handcuffs. And most won’t even notice!
Conclusion:
Trust is good, control is better. That may be so. And sometimes that’s a good thing. But it always depends on who has the control and what power they associate with it.
Some will say “such GTCs have existed for a long time, what’s the nonsense about”. Yes, that may be true, but the interpretation and mass analysis of data today enable a completely different level of enforcement. The vagueness of the formulations also allows for interpretation in the sense of whoever has the power to draw consequences from them.
For those who don’t like it, there aren’t many options left. For example, switching to non-commercial LINUX systems with Debian, switching to a dumphone (see blog post), or switching to a Linux-based smartphone.
Furthermore, one should rethink the cloud strategy. For years I have been warning about the dependence on these systems. For many, it will be too late.
Anyone now crying out for data protection and the like should be aware that the EU, with its latest rules and laws, actively supports such approaches. We are all supposed to be protected from evil. You ask for the link? Just search for it yourself. That increases the sense of achievement as well as the shock potential of the associated self-realization.
But one thing should be clear to everyone. Companies like MS have a monopoly. They can “crush” all of us overnight. Whether private individuals or companies. And as always, one should apply the universally valid saying: “follow the money”. Because there is always someone who profits from it. It’s not about truth, our health, or “good.” Quite the opposite.
When does freedom of speech end and the private police state begin?
Image sources: Shutterstock, Unsplash, ChatGPT
