German Official: Xbox One Spying Capabilities a "Twisted Nightmare"

[chrisj1968]

http://www.slate.com...htmare_for.html

When Microsoft launched its new Xbox One console last week, rave reviews calling it ?awesome? and ?stunning? were quickly forgotten when gamers began complaining about how the device doesn?t work with their old favorites (among other things). Now Microsoft has a new Xbox-related headache courtesy of Germany?s privacy chief, who is alarmed by its potential intrusive surveillance capabilities.

The complaint stems from the latest version of the motion-sensing Kinect technology. The Kinect device designed for the Xbox One can monitor users? movements with a camera that sees in the dark, picks up voice commands with a microphone, and reads your heart rate using infrared cameras that track blood flow underneath the skin. Because the device is connected to the Internet, malicious hackers could potentially hijack the console and use it for spying. In addition, Microsoft has filed a patent that suggests it is interested in using Kinect to count the number of people in a room in order to charge each person for providing pay-per-user content. The patent outlines how a camera could be used with face and gesture recognition as part of a Kinect-style system to enforce ?age and identity restrictions? on certain kinds of content, effectively granting copyright holders virtual access to private dwellings, as Wired described it.

other source http://www.realityzone.com/currentperiod.html

[trooper11]

MS has to prove that Kinect can be properly disable it if customers choose to.

I'm not sure if that means it must be allowed to be disconnected or if they just have to provide software tools that are confirmed to disable its functions.

There are many devices sold with a built in camera and a connection to the internet, so as long as proper controls are in place, it should be ok.

[Torolol]

and arbitary xbox os updates by Microsoft can bring the device to un-disable state without user consent,

and you can't sue MS for that too, read the xbox one EULA.

[vcfan]

hmm, german privacy chief outraged over popular product that has yet to be released,yet not outraged at billions of products that already have cameras and are connected to the internet. seems to me someone is trying to garner press,and perhaps gain votes(if someone can check if there is a type of election going on) by mentioning successful products and companies. .

[farmeunit]

hmm, german privacy chief outraged over popular product that has yet to be released,yet not outraged at billions of products that already have cameras and are connected to the internet. seems to me someone is trying to garner press,and perhaps gain votes(if someone can check if there is a type of election going on) by mentioning successful products and companies. .

I wouldn't buy a phone if it DIDN'T have a camera, because I don't want to carry around multiple devices. The Xbox doesn't REQUIRE the Kinect to be useful. It's an arbitrary requirement, so, yes it is different.

[vcfan]

I wouldn't buy a phone if it DIDN'T have a camera, because I don't want to carry around multiple devices. The Xbox doesn't REQUIRE the Kinect to be useful. It's an arbitrary requirement, so, yes it is different.

your phone doesn't stop working if you don't have a camera. whats your point? its the same damn thing.

[spenser.d]

I wouldn't buy a phone if it DIDN'T have a camera, because I don't want to carry around multiple devices. The Xbox doesn't REQUIRE the Kinect to be useful. It's an arbitrary requirement, so, yes it is different.

And the Xbox doesn't require the Kinect to be on unless you're playing a game that requires it. How the hell many times do they have to say it.

Also, this belongs in conspiracy theory.

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

German's take there privacy very seriously.

Key word is "Capability" always on device that can detect your heart beat.

Even Google has drawn the German's ire for use of Street View on google maps.

http://bits.blogs.ny...le-street-view/

also from article

"Street View has always been a challenge for Google in Europe, because European privacy laws and cultural norms are more sensitive to privacy issues than those in the United States."