I have an Microsoft Developer's Network software subscription which means I get to choose the version of Windows I want to install.
 
On a lark, I choose the UK edition. I burned it to a CD and formatted my OS Drive before installing.
 
During the install, I was asked whether I wanted to share about 20 different pieces of info automatically with Microsoft. I had to scroll to see them all, so don't hurry through these screens.
 
Next, with Region set to UK, Cortana is disabled... see this link...
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/why-isnt-cortana-in-my-region-or-language
 
I found this very telling.
 
This is a description of what Cortana is...
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/getstarted-what-is-cortana
 

Maybe it's because they feared some Scot would try Cortana, and the speech-recognition would be totally confounded. As are most English-speakers around the world.

There's no Cortana up here in Canada but all the intrusive "let me think for you" stuff is still installed. Not sure why they bypassed it in some regions. 

It's probably not just UK. It's probably European law.

ampfixer
There's no Cortana up here in Canada but all the intrusive "let me think for you" stuff is still installed. Not sure why they bypassed it in some regions. 

From what I have read (true or not) the Cortana thing has something to do with localized languages, and they are making sure that accents are picked up correctly, and the meanings of things maybe  different from one location to another, that type of stuff, and as that is sorted it will be rolled out to various locations as ready. Again, only what I have read, and I read it on the internet so it has to be true . . . doesn't it