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New Microsoft Privacy Statement Explains How Xbox One’s Kinect Collects Data

P

Poetic.Injustice

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In order to use the camera to sign you in, Kinect “measures distances between key points on your face to create a numeric value that represents only you.” This information stays on your console and is not shared. The value itself is stored as a “very long set of numbers” and, according to Microsoft, “[n]o one could look at the numbers and know they represent you.”

For gameplay purposes, Kinect will map the distances between your body’s joints to create a stick figure. The numeric values for your stick figure are temporarily stored in memory on your console during a gameplay session but are destroyed when you quit the session.

If you’re playing online “Microsoft may collect those numeric values to enable and improve gameplay and improve the gaming experience” but the values sent to Microsoft are “destroyed after analysis is complete.” The company notes you will not be able to be identified by your stick figure representation.
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In terms of voice chat, however, the privacy statement advises users they “should not expect any level of privacy concerning your use of the live communication features such as voice chat, video and communications in live-hosted gameplay sessions offered through the Services.” Microsoft says it may monitor communications “to the extent permitted by law, but we cannot monitor the entire Service and make no attempt to do so.” The company reminds users that other players could record and use your communications on Xbox Live and your “[c]ommunications in live-hosted gameplay sessions may also be broadcast to others.”
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http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11...t-explains-how-xbox-ones-kinect-collects-data
 
If you’re playing online “Microsoft may collect those numeric values to enable and improve gameplay and improve the gaming experience” but the values sent to Microsoft are “destroyed after analysis is complete.” The company notes you will not be able to be identified by your stick figure representation.
Click to expand...
But what about the information contained in the analysis? The original data is destroyed, but this says nothing about the results.
In terms of voice chat, however, the privacy statement advises users they “should not expect any level of privacy concerning your use of the live communication features such as voice chat, video and communications in live-hosted gameplay sessions offered through the Services.” Microsoft says it may monitor communications “to the extent permitted by law, but we cannot monitor the entire Service and make no attempt to do so.” The company reminds users that other players could record and use your communications on Xbox Live and your “[c]ommunications in live-hosted gameplay sessions may also be broadcast to others.”
Click to expand...
:X
 
I can understand them having the ability to monitor all in-game chats. I'm fine with that. But this appears to say they can monitor and record all Skype calls too. If that's accurate...fuck them.

edit: I'm wrong. It says game-related communications. I'm alright with that as long as private messages/Skype don't fall under that umbrella.
 
“should not expect any level of privacy concerning your use of the live communication features such as voice chat, video and communications in live-hosted gameplay sessions offered through the Services.”
Click to expand...

At first I was going to protest and rage but then I kept reading on.

"The company reminds users that other players could record and use your communications on Xbox Live and your “[c]ommunications in live-hosted gameplay sessions may also be broadcast to others.”
Click to expand...

Makes some sense. Anyways, Microsoft better be honest when they say the data can't be used to identify you, and that it IS deleted after being analysed to improve game play. STILL, I want the option to opt out like on 360. I wouldn't opt out, I opted in on 360, but still, the option is nice.
 
Microsoft says it may monitor communications “to the extent permitted by law, but we cannot monitor the entire Service and make no attempt to do so.”

What law are they talking about and is this only about US or the whole world?
 
UNCMark said:
I can understand them having the ability to monitor all in-game chats. I'm fine with that. But this appears to say they can monitor and record all Skype calls too. If that's accurate...fuck them.
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No. This is specifically for XBL and not Skype...
 
Fredrik said:
Microsoft says it may monitor communications “to the extent permitted by law, but we cannot monitor the entire Service and make no attempt to do so.”

What law are they talking about and is this only about US or the whole world?
Click to expand...

The laws of Antarctica my friend.
 
Summary: Don't go on Live talking that crazy I'll kill your family shit unless you want them boys in blue knocking at your door.

Also don't solicit sex or drugs over Live
 
Right....

prism-slide-5.jpg
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Fredrik said:
Microsoft says it may monitor communications “to the extent permitted by law, but we cannot monitor the entire Service and make no attempt to do so.”

What law are they talking about and is this only about US or the whole world?
Click to expand...

The whole world one would presume. If any law enforcement agency (read as: Government) comes to Microsoft, Microsoft by law would be required to cooperate with them to the extent of that country's laws. If they didn't they would be fined in that country and risk having their products banned.
 
NoirVisage said:
How do you use kinect when its unplugged genius? Try reading the article so you can white knight properly.
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At least when you call out someone for editing remember the whole thing genius: "Just unplug the Kinect from the internet" That is exactly what I said!

By the way, use a little more originality than "white knight". Come up with your own material.
 
killer rin said:
The whole world one would presume. If any law enforcement agency (read as: Government) comes to Microsoft, Microsoft by law would be required to cooperate with them to the extent of that country's laws. If they didn't they would be fined in that country and risk having their products banned.
Click to expand...
Okay, in other words the phrase "permitted by the law" could mean no monitoring what so ever in one country and complete monitoring in another country, depending on the local laws.

They should've said that there is no monitoring what do ever anywhere in the world, it's stored locally. Everything else will turn into another PR fiasco at this point.
 
"The company notes you will not be able to be identified by your stick figure representation."

Fuck yes! This was my biggest worry.
 
If the numbers are destroyed after each session what is even the point of sending the data to microsoft? Am I misunderstanding something, what would the benefit be of them collecting measurements on our faces?
 
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