How does the new Microsoft TOS impact VS Code?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37513650

by iinnPP • 3 years ago

3 2 3 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I'm worried the new TOS for MS will send all my work to Microsoft for use in training their AI. Is this a valid way to read the changes or am I overreacting?

gardenfelder• 3 years ago

TOS is here:

https://code.visualstudio.com/license

What, specifically, concerns you?

SushiHippie• 3 years ago

I just looked at the TOS and the Privacy Policy, I'm not a SME, I don't personally use VsCode and I didn't really dive deep into other pages than the TOS and the Privacy Policy, this is not legal advice in any way.

From what I've read, vscode does not send your code automatically to their servers, although this may happen through extensions.

You can disable *most* of the telemetry via https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/telemetry#_dis...

Seemingly vscode is GDPR compliant also outside of the EU if I understand this text correctly https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/telemetry#_gdp...

But, *if* they upload your code to their servers, they will train AI on it, as stated in the privacy policy https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement

"For example, to build, train, and improve the accuracy of our automated methods of processing (including artificial intelligence or AI), [...]"

Though if you really care about your privacy you shouldn't use VSCode, one alternative (there are many, vsocde is a text editor after all) is vscodium, but many extensions don't work with it because of how microsoft licensed the extensions. https://vscodium.com/

How does the new Microsoft TOS impact VS Code?

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