Microsoft's Windows 10 privacy policies questioned by EU Article 29 Working Party

Microsoft asked to explain how private data from Windows 10 users is processed

The European Union has, again, warned Microsoft over privacy issues in its Windows 10 operating system

The Article 29 Working Party has highlighted a number of problems with the operating system, despite the addition of such features as the privacy dashboard, which Microsoft only introduced after threats of law suits from Switzerland and an ultimatum from the French data protection watchdog.

Concerns, apart from what it is described as a 'lack of transparency', include the lack of control over (and information about) data that is collected, and the default settings that can seem quite complicated for ordinary users to navigate. There have also been complaints that these settings have been reset following some operating system patches.

Reuters reports that the group, which is comprised of data protection agencies from countries across the European Union, wants Microsoft to explain how it processes personal data, particularly for advertising.

"In light of the above, which are separate to the results of ongoing inquiries at a national level, even considering the proposed changes to Windows 10, the Working Party remains concerned about the level of protection of users' personal data," claimed the group.

It went on to say that Microsoft has indicated its willingness to cooperate.

"Microsoft should clearly explain what kinds of personal data are processed for what purposes. Without such information, consent cannot be informed, and therefore, not valid," it added.

As ever with the debate over privacy, it will bring up the argument that they're all just as bad as each other - controlling privacy in Windows 10 is a walk in the park compared to Google's Android operating system.

Microsoft is yet to comment on the matter. The latest version of Windows 10, known as the "Creators Update" (which, now we think about it, makes it sound a bit god-bothery) is out in April.