OneDrive will prevent screenshots of sensitive documents, but this feature will only be available in Microsoft's own browser.

      TL;DR: Starting in August, Microsoft Edge will prevent screenshots of PDFs labeled with sensitivity in OneDrive and SharePoint for enterprise users. This restriction does not apply to other browsers and is exclusive to enterprise accounts.

      Next month, OneDrive and SharePoint will disable screen captures when enterprise users access specific sensitivity-labeled PDFs in Microsoft Edge. This restriction targets documents marked with a Purview Information Protection label that lacks the Copy (EXTRACT) permission. When these criteria are met, the screenshot blocking will be enabled by default. Personal OneDrive accounts and unlabeled files will remain unaffected.

      This feature aims to create consistency between Microsoft’s desktop applications and its browser platform. Previously, Purview labels were effective in preventing editing, printing, copying, and screenshots within supported desktop applications, but similar restrictions were not uniformly enforced for PDFs viewed in the browser. Additionally, administrators can prohibit local downloads, which stops users from saving a protected document and using it outside Edge. Having discovered a significant number of vulnerabilities in its software this year through AI-driven security tools, Microsoft is now addressing the need to prevent authorized users from mistakenly leaking sensitive information.

      Other browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and mobile options will not support this restriction. Microsoft cautions that individuals viewing protected documents outside Edge “may experience inconsistent enforcement” and recommends that organizations implement Conditional Access or browser-management policies to steer employees towards Edge. The security advantages are substantial, particularly for sensitive financial, legal, and unreleased product documents. However, this system is only effective if everyone who accesses the document uses Microsoft’s browser.

      This is part of a strategic approach. Following Google’s AI search updates, DuckDuckGo saw an 18% increase in installations as users sought alternatives to default options. In contrast, Microsoft is focusing on building features that function exclusively in Edge to incentivize IT departments to enforce its usage. The screenshot blocking for sensitive PDFs represents a significant security enhancement, but its exclusivity to Edge also serves as a strategy for promoting compliance. Support for other browsers and mobile applications may be provided in the future, although Microsoft has not specified a timeline for this.