Austria’s data protection authority has ordered Microsoft to stop using tracking cookies in its education software, following complaints by privacy campaigners. The ruling comes amid growing concerns about student privacy in schools.
Online rights group Noyb filed two complaints against Microsoft in 2024, claiming the company’s education software violates children’s data protection rights. Last year, Austria’s DSB authority found that Microsoft had “illegally” tracked students and must grant them access to their personal data.
In its latest decision, dated January 21, the DSB stated that Microsoft lacks a legal basis to process students’ personal information. The company must stop using cookies that are not technically necessary within four weeks. Cookies, often used to analyze user behavior and for advertising, were reportedly installed on pupils’ devices without consent.
Felix Mikolasch, a data protection lawyer at Noyb, said, “Tracking minors clearly isn’t privacy-friendly.” Campaigners say the decision is a significant step in protecting children’s privacy online and holds major tech firms accountable for GDPR violations.
Microsoft has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the latest ruling. However, Noyb has a history of initiating legal actions against tech giants, often prompting regulatory authorities to take corrective measures.
The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), introduced in 2018, allows individuals to control how companies collect and use their personal data. Noyb’s legal actions focus on ensuring that tech companies comply with these regulations, especially when it comes to protecting minors.
Experts say the ruling against Microsoft could have wider implications for educational technology providers worldwide. Schools increasingly rely on digital tools, making it essential that student data is safeguarded and that companies operate transparently.
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This decision reinforces the importance of online privacy for children and serves as a reminder for tech companies to follow strict data protection standards. Authorities and privacy groups will continue monitoring compliance closely in the coming months.
