Going too far without user consent: Mozilla blasts Microsofts AI creep as
user backlash forces Copilot to be scaled back

Date:
Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:56:12 +0000

Description:
Mozilla chides Microsoft for forcing its Copilot AI into apps and says
Firefox works very differently.

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your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Mozilla has criticized Microsofts Copilot practices Microsoft has faced complaints over forcing its AI onto users Its now decided to scale back Copilot in its apps If youre a long-time Windows user, you might have noticed Microsoft s not-so-subtle attempts to shoehorn its Copilot artificial intelligence (AI) into pretty much every app possible on your PC. Copilot in Notepad? Check. In Widgets? You bet. In the Snipping Tool? Of course.

But all that unreasonable AI-ification has led to repeated user backlash ,
and it seems that Microsoft has finally cottoned on by scaling back machine learning features in a selection of its own apps. And for Firefox maker Mozilla, that move is long overdue. Writing on the companys official blog , Linda Griffin, Mozillas Vice President of Global Policy, said that Rolling back these forced AI integrations is the right move, but this is just the
most recent example of Microsoft going too far without user consent. Article continues below You may like Microsoft drops controversial Windows 11 Copilot feature after backlash Microsoft rumored to be cutting back AI ambitions in bid to save Windows 11 Windows 11's AI removal campaign begins, but Notepad change isn't popular

Griffin characterized Microsofts Copilot expansion as forceful and done with no prompt and no consent, noting that users were not asked if they wanted their apps to be outfitted with AI features.

And Griffin was blunt about Microsofts motivations, saying that When
Microsoft says it now wants to be intentional about Copilot, theyre really admitting that they made repeated choices to serve their business over their customers. Deceptive moves (Image credit: Shutterstock) Griffin argued that embedding AI inside its apps was part of a pattern of deceptive design patterns from Microsoft.

Research commissioned by Mozilla has found that Microsoft uses design and distribution tactics to override user choice, such as the Windows search bar opening Edge and not your web browser of choice, the lack of a device migration system in Microsofts operating system , and the convoluted path users must take if they want to select a new default browser. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

In contrast, Mozilla says its doing things differently. Its own built-in browser AI can be disabled using a single kill switch , something that was implemented after vocal user feedback . Griffin says this is part of Mozillas way of thinking regarding AI: You should decide whether AI is part of your browsing experience at all. Not Big Tech. Not Mozilla. You.

Griffin also contrasted Mozillas approach against Microsofts in another way, saying: And critically, your preferences also persist across browser updates, which means AI tools wont silently re-enable themselves after a major
upgrade. No reinstalling. No opting out again after the fact.

Theres no doubt that Microsoft has come in for plenty of criticism over the aggressive way it has rolled out Copilot across its apps, and its hand has been forced by users in other areas too.

With the company deciding to change course after facing strong complaints,
its hard not to agree with much of what Mozillas Griffin has said. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/going-too-far-without-user-c onsent-mozilla-blasts-microsofts-ai-creep-as-user-backlash-forces-copilot-to-b e-scaled-back


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