Overview
- Microsoft this week pushed an update to the OneDrive client that added a WebView2-based app called OneDrive Photos to some Windows 11 Start menus.
- The beta displays local pictures and photos stored in OneDrive, provides basic editing and sharing, and unlocks AI-powered search and people-grouping when users sign in.
- OneDrive Photos is embedded in the OneDrive client and cannot be uninstalled on its own, so removing it currently requires uninstalling the entire OneDrive app.
- Microsoft says face grouping is opt-in, that facial data stays tied to the user’s account and is not shared with third parties, and that users can delete the data with an automatic two-year removal after inactivity.
- Because the app is web-based and was auto-distributed, users and commentators have raised concerns about surprise installation and where image analysis runs, which could prompt user pushback and regulatory attention in places with biometric rules.