If you don't think this is already happening you've had your head in the sand for far too long.
But it also doesn't mean that it has to be "intrusive". ANY software (or hardware/firmware combo) that claims any kind of function that learns from your input means it HAS to collect data (input from keyboard, screen or voice), analyze it and use the results as feedback into the future products. That predictive text input you use on your phone to type IMs? Guess how it got so good at predicting??? And how it gets even better at predicting for your use. How do you think plug-n-play got so good? If you remove the feedback loop you live in a world like Apple, where no variation is allowed, or you live in a world where nothing works together properly (any of you old enough to remember trying to get network adapters to work properly under W3.1 or WFWG?). It not as much about WHAT they collect, its about what they DO with it once they've got it.
Microsoft is actually at the other end of the scale in terms of violating privacy. They have a policy to inform the user about anything they collect, regardless of what they will use it for (its a violation of MS legal and HR policy not to do this and can result in termination). IMHO, they overcommunicate to the point of being cumbersome during installs.
Stop worrying about the ones that tell you what they're doing and start worrying about the people that haven't been/aren't telling you what they're collecting.
But it also doesn't mean that it has to be "intrusive". ANY software (or hardware/firmware combo) that claims any kind of function that learns from your input means it HAS to collect data (input from keyboard, screen or voice), analyze it and use the results as feedback into the future products. That predictive text input you use on your phone to type IMs? Guess how it got so good at predicting??? And how it gets even better at predicting for your use. How do you think plug-n-play got so good? If you remove the feedback loop you live in a world like Apple, where no variation is allowed, or you live in a world where nothing works together properly (any of you old enough to remember trying to get network adapters to work properly under W3.1 or WFWG?). It not as much about WHAT they collect, its about what they DO with it once they've got it.
Microsoft is actually at the other end of the scale in terms of violating privacy. They have a policy to inform the user about anything they collect, regardless of what they will use it for (its a violation of MS legal and HR policy not to do this and can result in termination). IMHO, they overcommunicate to the point of being cumbersome during installs.
Stop worrying about the ones that tell you what they're doing and start worrying about the people that haven't been/aren't telling you what they're collecting.