18.1.2.2 (L1) 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

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

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 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.

Impact:

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

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/17603