No secret NSA Xbox One Kinect conspiracy, Xbox exec claims

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After caught supplying sensitive info to governments and agencies, Microsoft exec claims Kinect user's facial data won't leave the console

Concerns over Kinect's more surreptitious possibilities were raised as far back as May when the device was revealed. Days after the next-gen console was showcased for the first time, Peter Schaar, Germany's federal commissioner for data protection and freedom of information, claimed:

"The Xbox continuously records all sorts of personal information about me. Reaction rates, my learning or emotional states. These are then processed on an external server, and possibly even passed on to third parties. Whether they will ever [be] deleted, the person can not influence".
The controversy coincided with a major scandal sparked by former CIA employee and NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who revealed that data from the world's biggest software companies (Apple, Google, Microsoft et al) were provided to state officials, in many cases in a manner that has no legal protection.

Since those revelations, Microsoft has come under significant scrutiny regarding its privacy policies. In July it was discovered that Microsoft supplied email and Skype details to the NSA. The corporation said it was legally bound to not discuss the matter openly.

Doubts and suspicions over Microsoft's handling of personal data has not abated. Late in September, a former Microsoft privacy adviser said he no longer trusts the company after reading about the NSA mass-surveillance operation.

Days later it was revealed that Microsoft handed over the personal information of more than a thousand customers to Australian government agents in the first half of 2013.

The assumed fear is that Microsoft will use, or be forced to use, Kinect as part of the state's mass surveillance operations. But on Thursday a marketing executive, Albert Penello, made some assurances about customers' control over Xbox.


Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/432443/no-secret-nsa-kinect-conspiracy-xbox-exec-claims/

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"No secret NSA Xbox One Kinect conspiracy, Xbox exec claims" :: Login/Create an Account :: 127 comments

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barkley800Posted:

maybe someone could work around it like take apart the kinect. Find and disable the mic and tape over the camera lens.

Dr-JPosted:

BSOD
Dr-J
Pashtun
xFever its all lies people.... all lies
You are probably the smartest one here. The others are too stubborn to realize it.


And you think the ps4's "eye" won't be watched?


yeah but nobody will even use it

You got me there lmao but they're always there if you do use it.

camhtcv7Posted:

If they want your info they could get your info.

neboPosted:

Dr-J
Pashtun
xFever its all lies people.... all lies
You are probably the smartest one here. The others are too stubborn to realize it.


And you think the ps4's "eye" won't be watched?


yeah but nobody will even use it

Dr-JPosted:

Pashtun
xFever its all lies people.... all lies
You are probably the smartest one here. The others are too stubborn to realize it.


And you think the ps4's "eye" won't be watched?

PashtunPosted:

xFever its all lies people.... all lies
You are probably the smartest one here. The others are too stubborn to realize it.

NaviLliciousPosted:

the people who are saying they dont understand what the problem is its an invasion of privacy, i mean would you feel comfortable knowing everything you do is secretly being watched by somebody? i know i dont and thats why im not going to have the kinect plugged in im going to throw it out when i get a console if i dont use it then its pointless to have

LostPosted:

It doesn't matter if they want your info that badly then they'll get your info.

xFeverPosted:

its all lies people.... all lies

MPAAPosted:

Yin
Seem most people are worried cause they do illegal stuff hahahah


I worry. I do nothing that is illegal, and I still worry. If they can get cameras like the Kinect in your home so willingly, then they can get them in through other things eventually, like TV's. That is a huge problem. The government can and most likely will study us with that information. They could eventually know almost everything about you and know your next move before you do (since we are creatures of habit after all.) Every home could eventually have one as a surveillance camera for the government. That could easily give government enough eyes and ears for a true police state. This itself isn't that bad, but it can lead into something that is horrific if it goes the wrong way (which is the only way I see it going.) It's a huge privacy concern. It could very well turn into a freedom concern (may be distant future, but the change into it has to start somewhere.)


Yin This itself isn't that bad, but it can lead into something that is horrific if it goes the wrong way


It only takes the next government to turn it into a full scale nightmare, how long did it take Hitler to turn Germany into a nazi state?

I also have to question what your thoughts are on webcams built in to laptops these days.


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