Microsoft Bing Wallpaper App Faces Backlash Over Full Screen Desktop Ads
2 sources across 2 countries · Brazil · United Kingdom
Who reported this
- Tecnoblog
- The Register
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
- A hatched block means the outlet is affiliated with, or controlled by, a state.
Political lean describes where an outlet sits within the politics of its own country. It is never a position on a single global scale.
Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.
The owner of each outlet is listed as a matter of record, not as a judgement about the outlet.
Every outlet covering this story shares the same political lean; read with that in mind.
Microsoft is facing criticism after its official Bing Wallpaper app began displaying full screen advertisements on Windows 11 desktops. The recent campaign promotes a collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, replacing the scenic landscapes and nature photos users typically expect from the utility. The advertisement features a minimalist image of Hogwarts castle and a button encouraging users to search the web for the purchase.
Users on Reddit and the Microsoft Learn forum expressed frustration over the intrusive nature of the marketing. Some users have left one star reviews on the Microsoft Store page, stating they uninstalled the app to prevent further ads. The app's download page contains a notice in small print stating that users may receive notifications containing promotional offers.
Some critics have linked their dissatisfaction to the controversies surrounding author J.K. Rowling and her views on transgender issues. One user on the Microsoft Learn forum suggested that Microsoft should donate the proceeds from the campaign to organizations supporting the transgender population. Other users focused solely on the monetization of the app and the loss of a clean user experience.
Microsoft has not officially responded to requests for comment regarding this specific campaign. This incident follows previous reports of Microsoft inserting promotions into the Windows 11 Start menu and allegations regarding the Bing Wallpaper app's handling of browser cookies.
How each side framed it
- Centre
- Both center leaning sources focused on user dissatisfaction and the intrusive nature of the ads, though one emphasized the broader history of Microsoft's privacy and advertising practices.
Sources
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