Why does the new version of edge want to turn my web camera "ON"

Anonymous
2020-04-12T01:23:18+00:00

I have been using the new version of edge for a while now and have come to notice every time it loads up the software tries to turn the webcam connected to the computer "ON".

As I do not use Skype or there is no reason for Edge to need the camera I find it unreasonale for Microsoft to think it has a right to spy on me at my computer by using the camera without asking.I have put black tape over the camera lens on every computer I own that has a camera ( 2 Desktops and 3 Laptops).

This begs me to wonder what other means Microsoft is using to spy on our computers without our consent, I do wonder if there are people who have computers in their bathrooms and do not know they are being watched via the pinhole camera on top of the screen or watching some ones daughter as she is doing her homework on her computer unaware the camera is looking down her cleavage.

Microsoft Edge | Open the browser | Windows 10

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-04-12T01:36:57+00:00

    Hello,

    I'm your Independent Advisor for today. I know this can be frustrating, but don't worry. I'm here to figure this out for you.

    Please reset Edge using these steps:

    1. Go to edge://settings
    2. Click Reset Settings > Restore settings to their default values
    3. Click the Reset button, then restart Edge.

    Once restarted, please try the task you're doing in Edge and see if everything works.

    If that doesn't work, turn off site permissions for camera access:

    1. Go to edge://settings
    2. Click "Site permissions" on the left pane.
    3. Go to Camera and toggle the switch OFF. This will block access requests from Edge or websites.

    Hope this helps.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-04-12T11:58:58+00:00

    I know how to turn the camera off What I want to know is why this is on by default is it so we can be spied upon by persons it should be OFF by default

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-04-12T14:21:44+00:00

    If you check the setting, it prompts whether to allow the app or the website to use your camera. You still have control over which information and devices Edge will use.

    I recommend providing feedback to Edge's dev team by pressing Alt + Shift + I. Any new updates and implementations will be available in the next update. I'm pretty sure would love to hear about your privacy concerns.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-06-14T04:09:49+00:00

    Hi what I have found even worse is that even if  you  set the privacy settings within Microsoft Edge itself, either to block webcam access or to have sites ask permission first, even then Microsoft Edge is overriding its own privacy instructions but without telling the user, and as the person posting the question above says, there is no need for the camera to be turned on when opening microsoft edge anyway. Also, I didn't even ask for  the new microsoft edge, it came as part of a windows 10 compulsory download and now can't be uninstalled.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-07-30T13:30:07+00:00

    I changed both settings in Edge, but Edge still requests access to the camera during launch.  I know this because Norton 360 is still asking me to respond to the camera request . . . the same as before I turned off the camera in Edge.  Sounds pretty sneaky.

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