Microsoft has changed the Online Services Terms for Office 365

2 min. read

Updated onSeptember 1, 2021

updated onSeptember 1, 2021

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

In 2019, the European Data Protection Supervisor investigatedMicrosoft’s alleged breach of European data protection laws. That body confirmed it had serious concerns regardingMicrosoft’s contracts with European organizations.Microsofthas now published new Online Services Terms for Office 365.

In 2018, the Dutch Ministry of Justice launched its own investigation into MS Office’s hidden collection of telemetry data. In early 2019, the DMOJ claimedMicrosoftwas breaching the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation on eight accounts. Those breaches of the GDPR more specifically pertained to the telemetry data collection systems of Office 365 and Office Pro Plus. The DMOJ accusedMicrosoftof collecting personal data on a grand scale without correctly informing users.

That verdict sent alarm bells ringing in Brussels. The European Data Protection Supervisor followed up the original investigation in Holland. Later in 2019, the EDPS stated:

Though the investigation is still ongoing, preliminary results reveal serious concerns over the compliance of the relevant contractual terms with data-protection rules and the role ofMicrosoftas a processor for EU institutions using its products and services.

In response,Microsoftpromised that it would change its cloud service contracts toward the end of 2019.Microsoft‘s privacy officer stated:

[We] will clarify thatMicrosoftassumes the role of data controller when we process data for specified administrative and operational purposes incident to providing the cloud services covered by this contractual framework, such as Azure, Office 365, Dynamics, and Intune. The basic promise was to introduce greater transparency about data processing inMicrosoft’s OST.

NowMicrosofthas just published its new Online Service Terms for Office 365. That new OST is available for download in various languages from theMicrosoft website. The new OST includes four key changes to the original. It is a 40-page document that does not authorizeMicrosoftto process customer data for commercial purposes unless the customer permits it.

Therefore, the new OST document makes it much clearer about how Microsoft Office 365 processes customer data. It will end the big M’s covert processing of customer data withOffice 365and Office Pro Plus.

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Microsoft has changed the Online Services Terms for Office 365#

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

Microsoft has changed the Online Services Terms for Office 365