Fact · Voice privacy and security
In August 2019, after questions about Skype Translator and Cortana audio, Microsoft said it could do better at specifying that humans sometimes review this content, and it updated its privacy statement and product FAQs.
Checked against its source on October 17, 2026
In the source's own words
“We realized, based on questions raised recently, that we could do a better job specifying that humans sometimes review this content.”
Microsoft tweaks privacy policy to admit humans can listen to Skype Translator and Cortana audio, TechCrunch staff, TechCrunch, 2019, Statement to Motherboard, quoted in the article.
Open the original- What it measures
- Microsoft's statement responded to Motherboard's report that contractors listened to audio from Skype Translator and Cortana. Microsoft said the review covers short snippets of a small sample of de-identified voice data.
- What it does not show
- Microsoft's statement is its own account. The statement does not say how many snippets were reviewed or who reviewed them.