October 4, 2015 | Online

Microsoft will make it less easy for parents to spy on gay teens

After privacy concerns were raised by Pink News, Microsoft has indicated it will modify the "Family Settings" in Windows 10 to make it less likely that parents will find out their child is gay before he or she is ready to tell them.

PinkNews last month raised concern about Windows 10’s ‘activity reports’ feature, which is enabled by default for users who have set up registered family accounts – sending weekly breakdowns of children’s browsing history to their parents.

Testing the feature using a fake family, PinkNews found that a child’s gay-related search history and visits to LGBT support sites were flagged in emails sent to parents, alongside detailed information about gay pornography the teen had attempted to view.

According to Microsoft’s Terry Anderson, “As an example of direct response to feedback we’ve received, all Windows 10 customers will receive an upcoming update to family features, with default settings designed to be more appropriate for teenagers, compared to younger children.

“Additionally, we’re working on ways to further enhance the notifications that kids and parents get about activity reporting in Windows.”

And of course, parents who trust their teens can still opt out of Family Settings altogether. How about that?

Microsoft to change Windows 10 after warnings it could ‘out’ gay teens [Pink News]