18.1.2.2 Ensure 'Allow users to enable online speech recognition services' is set to 'Disabled'

Information

This policy enables the automatic learning component of input personalization that includes speech, inking, and typing. Automatic learning enables the collection of speech and handwriting patterns, typing history, contacts, and recent calendar information. It is required for the use of Cortana. Some of this collected information may be stored on the user's OneDrive, in the case of inking and typing; some of the information will be uploaded to Microsoft to personalize speech.

The recommended state for this setting is: Disabled.

Rationale:

If this setting is Enabled sensitive information could be stored in the cloud or sent to Microsoft.

Impact:

Automatic learning of speech, inking, and typing stops and users cannot change its value via PC Settings.

Solution

To establish the recommended configuration via GP, set the following UI path to Disabled:

Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Control Panel\Regional and Language Options\Allow users to enable online speech recognition services

Note: This Group Policy path may not exist by default. It is provided by the Group Policy template Globalization.admx/adml that is included with the Microsoft Windows 10 RTM (Release 1507) Administrative Templates (or newer).

Note #2: In older Microsoft Windows Administrative Templates, this setting was initially named Allow input personalization, but it was renamed to Allow users to enable online speech recognition services starting with the Windows 10 R1809 & Server 2019 Administrative Templates.

Default Value:

Enabled. (Automatic learning of speech, inking and typing is enabled, but users may change this value via PC Settings.)

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/4286