{
  "id": 6337638,
  "title": "Bing Wallpaper app opens Harry Potter's chamber of ads",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/bing-wallpaper-app-opens-harry-potters-chamber-of-ads",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-08T20:22:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register Science",
    "slug": "the-register-science",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/os-platforms/2026/09/08/bing-wallpaper-app-opens-harry-potters-chamber-of-ads/5295118"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Microsoft has introduced ads into its Bing Wallpaper app, placing a Harry Potter advertisement on users' desktops. Users have taken to Microsoft's Learn site and Reddit to express their dissatisfaction, questioning why their usual desktop wallpapers have been replaced with an ad for the Harry Potter film series. The ad displays a vector image of Hogwarts castle and informs users of the availability of all eleven films. Some users have expressed concern over the intrusion of advertising into what was once a collection of beautiful landscapes, animals, and architecture. Microsoft has a history of privacy controversies and ad placements, including a past incident where the app was accused of snooping on and decrypting browser cookies. The company has not commented directly on the current issue.",
  "summary": "No defense against the dark arts Microsoft is practicing on your wallpaper",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "TechRadar",
        "title": "Windows 11 desktop becomes a full-page Harry Potter ad — and Bing Wallpaper users rebel by uninstalling the app in droves",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/windows-11-desktop-becomes-a-full-page-harry-potter-ad-and-bing",
        "published": "2026-09-08T10:50:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Register",
        "title": "Bing Wallpaper app opens Harry Potter's chamber of ads",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/bing-wallpaper-app-opens-harry-potters-chamber-of-ads-6340838",
        "published": "2026-09-08T20:22:36.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}