Sony can 'monitor and record' PSN activity

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Sony's updated terms and conditions reveal that the company can actively monitor and record communication between players.

In a section in the company's new Software Usage Terms entitled 'Are we monitoring PSN?', the company declares that it is, but reassures that it is unable to monitor all communication.

Instead, Sony said it reserves the right to "monitor and record" text or voice communication, or user-generated media (UGM) where they feel it's necessary - for example, if another player submits a grief report. The disclosure comes amid widespread concerns over mass internet surveillance, after it was revealed that state officials across numerous western countries have been secretly accessing the user data of millions.

The full statement on Sony's site reads as follows:

Are we monitoring PSN?
Yes but we can't monitor all PSN activity and we make no commitment to do so. However, we reserve the right in our sole discretion to monitor and record any or all of your PSN activity and to remove any of your UGM at our sole discretion, without further notice to you.

Your use of PSN and our community features may be recorded and collected by us or sent to us by other users as described in 13.1.

Any information collected in this way, for example, your UGM, the content of your voice and text communications, video of your gameplay, the time and location of your activities, and your name, your PSN Online ID and IP address, may be used by us or our affiliated companies to enforce these Terms and the SEN Terms of Service, to comply with the law, to protect our rights and those of our licensors and users, and to protect the personal safety of our employees and users.

This information may be passed to the police or other appropriate authorities. By accepting these Software Usage Terms, you expressly consent to this.
Other agreements required in Sony's Software Usage Terms include the acceptance that all software is licensed, not sold, and that players "must not resell either disc-based software or software downloads, unless expressly authorised by [Sony]".

However, it is worth noting that similar statements have also been present in previous Terms & Conditions agreements for the PS3, PS Vita, PSP and Microsoft consoles.

Posted:
Related Forum: PlayStation Forum

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/437572/sony-can-monitor-and-record-psn-activity/

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"Sony can 'monitor and record' PSN activity" :: Login/Create an Account :: 44 comments

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TywinPosted:

Amp- This is nothing new. It would be a joke to say that they couldn't monitor and record any data and activity.


The government could know your exact location and could watch you at any given time via your cell phone.
There is no such thing as privacy so why is this such a big deal?

TywinPosted:

Georgasm It's really not a bad thing, you don't exactly say the most important thing's whilst gaming.


I guess it is just the paranoid tinfoil hat wearing kids that actually care about this kinda thing.

TywinPosted:

Woof
Ugg Hopefully, everyone won't be mad at the Xbox One now for having the "always on" Kinect.


They forgive Sony for all their mistakes but not Microsoft.


That is what fanboys do.
Although, the kinect isn't watching anything.

just a rumor.

TywinPosted:

Ohm i totally disagree with the fact that they can do this now but i fully understand why


I don't understand why at all.
Care to elaborate why?

TywinPosted:

Thlack I am getting the Xbox One now, I am just going to throw my kinnect in a box surrounded by foam to cancel noise and vision.


You are so paranoid for no reason.
Do you think that the government or microsoft gives a single crap about your boring life?

TomorrowLandPosted:

People are so paranoid these days...

TywinPosted:

I wonder why people think that the government is watching THEM in the first place.
Do you really think that are interested in your boring life?

If you didn't do anything wrong, they won't snoop on you.

NHRAPosted:

Frog
Shen People are so paranoid now. They freak out to extra protection companies and governments are employing, then when something goes wrong, they question why things like that can still go on. Because we are preventing them from helping us out to their full potential.


I don't agree with some of the extremities many governments go to, it's just way over the top and invasion of personal information. Although they can catch criminals and terrorists through it, they also get lots of information of how to screw over other countries and their own people.


Agreed, did you see where the Goverment was spying on I believe Spain? That leaves Spain there going "Hey America, what did we do to you guys?"

OhmPosted:

i totally disagree with the fact that they can do this now but i fully understand why

KatsumiPosted:

LaserShow
Ugg Hopefully, everyone won't be mad at the Xbox One now for having the "always on" Kinect.


They forgive Sony for all their mistakes but not Microsoft.


Both of the consoles are equally in the wrong when it comes to this. It doesn't really matter to me though


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