Microsoft Edge gets your Firefox data without permission?

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Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Microsoft Edge sometimes behaves like a coin with two sides. While it recently received a whole bunch of nicefeaturesthat would make any browser user happy, it also tends to ruffle feathers in certain situations.

Consider the latest user backlash that Edge attracted based on how it handles importing rival browser data. Just the other day, some users complained that Microsoft was too aggressive with itsEdge promos in Windows.

Microsoft Edge data importing controversy

Over the past few days, a good number of Microsoft Edge users gathered on Reddit to express their frustration with how the browser imports data fromChromeorFirefoxduring setup. Many claimed that theChromium-based browser first accessed their browsing data before asking for permission to import it.

One userlaments:

Are we going to get treated to spam popups advertising Edge and having it duplicate our data fromFirefoxwithout asking every time Microsoft decides to update it from now on?

Another added:

I just installed Edge today for testing, and I noticed my bookmarks fromFirefoxappear in the background/browser BEHIND the import acceptance dialog. The bookmarks disappeared after I said I didn’t want it to import anything. Obviously it still went looking before asking!

Based on these comments, it appears that Edge doesn’t end up importing your browsing data without your permission. But at least it looks for and finds the data before offering you the option to discard it, which raises valid user privacy concerns.

The folks atWindows Centralcontacted Microsoft about this issue. The company replied that it acknowledges customers’ rights to their browsing data. It added that Edge, just like other browsers, gives users the option to import data during setup.

In short, Microsoft doesn’t deny that Edge accesses yourFirefoxorChromebrowsing data before offering you the opportunity to import or discard it.

Do you think Microsoft Edge’s approach to importing browser data constitutes a breach of user privacy? Feel free to express your views in the comments section below.

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Microsoft Edge gets your Firefox data without permission?#

Microsoft Edge data importing controversy#

Microsoft Edge gets your Firefox data without permission?

Microsoft Edge data importing controversy