Xbox One facial data from Kinect doesn't leave the console

Those concerned about the potential for the Xbox One's Kinect camera to scan their face and upload that data to the cloud can breathe a sigh of relief. Microsoft director of product planning Albert Penello said in a NeoGAF post that this won't happen for privacy reasons.

[conjurdevil]

Sure!
But who gets access to the console?

[Bzone24]

I heard aliens from Neptune get full access to everyone's console. It's so cold there, they haven't got anything better to do than look at your mug.

[NewMonday]

He is expressing a real concern, personal data attracts hackers, stop trolling please

[HammadTheBeast]

Yeah, Neptune Space Agency.

Also known as NSA.

[PFFT]

The NSA already has your mug and all the information they need. They dont need Kinect to track your every movement nor to keep tabs on you.
The moment you use a tablet or smartphone BOOM your info has been archived in the NSA.

[JokesOnYou]

Hammad I like that; Neptune Space Agency= NSA. lol

Whats even funnier is that almost all of the same folks who are so "worried" share pics of themselves online, aka Facebook.

[christocolus]

why are people so worried? this isnt an issue..does ms have to sign a blood oath with these guys before they drop this issue? and that guy asks "who has acess to the console" is he joking?ms just said your data is not going to be stored online and the next issue is now home security too?.... nice one hamad also glad to see the usual comments from pfft, jokes on you,craiiig,palaven and holy duck...lol

[GameNameFame]

Chris before you go on full defense mode.

You know what goes on with NSA and etc? right?

[Pogmathoin]

Newmonday, you telling him to stop trollin while you cleverly troll??? I guess in your case its Uranus space agency... USA.

[christocolus]

@gamenamefame
defence mode? lmao....ok g.n.f. first off pls do not mistake me for some naive or ignorant fb like most of the guys in here..how many times does ms have to put this issue to rest?its frustrating..and its because of these guys ms made the deceision to remove the mandatory kinect feature.but yet dont people skype, dont they use social feeds,use pc cameras, upload photos and have phones constantly connected to the internet? the nsa has enough avenues to gather data already and dude i will defend ms whenever i see gamers act like whinny and unreasonable beings&imo ms should be given a break...so dude if that is being defensive..i plead guilty..

[Pogmathoin]

Chris, these fanboys would not know the trees from the woods, its simply sony fanboyism at its most immature.... If X1 was perfect, it would still be garbage and anything Sony would be sexy.... No matter what.... These idiots really believe they are sticking it to the big man too.... Like Sony is Greenpeace!

[nukeitall]

If you are in the US, most likely the government has all your information already.

Entering or leaving the US? Fingerprint!

Applying for new passport? Biometrics which include photo from several angles and fingerprint.

Personally, I would like for MS to store my facial info so I can log into any Xbox One without having to redo the facial scan.

[BallsEye]

@newmonday

Stop trolling? The ones who say it's spying on you are trolling. American insecurity I guess. You think everyone wanna spy on you and see you taking a dump.

[Gekko36]

@newmonday He's not trolling. He pointing out that worries about privacy are the same as with your phone, your ps4, your laptop, your tablet. A casual stoll through London will have your face analysed and catalogued with impunity, however with privacy laws you're safe unless MS are instructed by court order... and don't forget that all corporations will have to comply.. EVEN SONY.

So chill out and if you're still going a little freaky deaky about it, chuck your phone, laptop, webcam, tablet and camera aware console in the bin.. safe in the knowledge that you dodged this particular bullet with aplomb. Oh and just incase, I'd give London or any major city a wide birth too, cos you never know!.

Maybe move to the countryside and live in a hut?

[NewMonday]

Consumers need full detail of data tracking, not just general information, the MS faq dose not provide compleatly full information

And data tracking should be turned off by default, MS shouldn't take advantage of casual consumers lack of knowledge on the issue

[flunkers]

What!!!

[zeal0us]

You and them(MS), the NSA if they request it, and any other agencies that bypasses the Constitution

[nunley33]

nsa will have their backdoor built in for them just like ms put it into windows. hackers will find this just like how they found the ones in windows.

[ForgivenZombie]

Why do you think they added Windows 8. Access already built in.

[CRAIG667]

who gaf, 99% of people on here probably use facebook or some other social network, 99% of our faces are already in the realm of the internet,why is it the end of the world if it's on an xbox1?!!! This article is just stupid, half assed troll bait

[Software_Lover]

Because facebook and twitter and whatever else is not Sony vs Microsoft. I'll put it to you like an actual member of N4G told me (I'll find the actual post for you guys/gals)

If the situation was reversed, and the PS4 had every policy Microsoft tried to implement, and the XBone came out smelling like roses and 100.00 cheaper, he would still go with the PS4.

This is how sad this console "war" is.

[CerebralAssassin]

Its a damned if you do damned if you dont situation for Microsoft. All they can do is keep doing what they are doing and keep moving forward. Ill be enjoying my xbox one day one and no one will sell me otherwise.

[DragonKnight]

Facebook and Twitter are voluntary, up until recently Kinect was not and given Microsoft's track record with giving the NSA complete and full access to people's data and even their actual computers via Windows backdoors, there is a real reason to be more suspicious of MS than facebook or twitter.

[PFFT]

Remember the Ps4 will have the option utilizes the Ps cam as well. Its ability is about 20% of what the Kinect can do AND im sure the NSA will be keeping tabs on Ps4 player through that as well.

[jmc8888]

It doesn't work like that Craig.

Enlighten yourself. Please, for your own sake.

http://www.zerohedge.com/co...

[ForgivenZombie]

@DragonKnight Facebook are big Obama/Government supporters and have already given access to NSA and other agencies, just like Google, MSN, Yahoo and many others. There is only free speech as long as you agree with and obey the powers that be.

[Pogmathoin]

Software lover, please post it. I am sure the powers that be here control how things go here, ensuring anyone that is fair and not all about MS bashing will have as few bubbles as possible....

[saint_seya]

I guess is imposible to use fb with a fake picture, fake name.
In the other hand, i guess u will use fake names on the consoles to use your credit card, i mean u can totally make a fake name and use your credit card right, and u can fake your video, i mean, the person that will show in the camera is just a mask..

[Eonjay]

I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt. What I want to hear him say is that no personal biometeric data is transferred at all. Do you have any idea how valuable this type of data would be to the right advertisers?

When it comes to hacking... there is 0 percent chance that this wont be hacked. Anything made by man can be hacked so we can pretty much forget about this.

[dedicatedtogamers]

Exactly. The info isn't automatically uploaded to the cloud...but can it still be accessed remotely?

[malokevi]

Back to the NSA... paranoid fallback argument when there's nothing left to complain about. You are all so transparent.

Southpark S17E01

[Hicken]

If only Microsoft was equally as clear, this wouldn't even be a concern.

[Ashlen]

This guy recently got arrested for hacking Miss Teen America's webcam and trying to extort her for money. Apparently she wasn't the first person either.

The fact is if you have a camera and it's some how attached to the open internet you put yourself at risk from both criminals and law enforcement.

http://www.nydailynews.com/...

[Lboogieskells]

That's some real Watch Dogs type ish.

[mhunterjr]

This is ridiculous. The problem is the government's overreaching powers. It's not a Microsoft issue. If Sony was subpoenaed, they'd do the same thing.

The good news is, their no conceivable reason to believe recording gamers would beat fruit in the fight against terrorism...

PS, wasn't it Sony's network that lost compromised the credit card information of millions of users? Information security is everyone issue.

[Palaven]

Here is an idea... If your that paranoid about Kinect 'spying' on you... don't use Kinect?

[ShwankyShpanky]

"Don't use Kinect... just pay for it."

Right?

[3-4-5]

exactly. It's all in HOW you ask the question.

[Blaze929]

I don't get why people on the internet talk about privacy concerns lol. You know how backwards that is? Every ISP is giving up information to your government right now every day and you don't even know it. If they want it, they will get it.

Look at the iPhone 5s, it's possible to believe that it was even designed in hand 'with' the government. All those fingerprints, easily obtained willingly.

You really concerned about hackers and privacy, you prooobably wouldn't own technology - period. You all need to relax with this Kinect spying, NSABox stuff lol.

It makes even conspiracy theorist, look more mature than gamers. They say it aint, it aint. if it is, we will never know about it...until someone leaks something or speaks up.

yet no one is STILL talking about how Sony plans to make their PSN infrastructure more secure and better - especially after what happened in 2011. But we're just all supposed to pay $49.99 now for no reason and not ask questions?

That Microsoft hate is strong.

[ShwankyShpanky]

My ISP might know what I look at or transfer over the internet... they do not have the means to tell what I am discussing with someone live and in person in my own living room.

I also doubt that the Xbone/XBL plays nice with proxy servers, VPNs, encryption, or any other method of masking internet communications.

False equivalency: look it up.

[Hicken]

With all the other data that's supposedly being collected and used for... whatever, I'm skeptical.

[nunley33]

advertising mostly.

[PFFT]

Ad collection will be explicitly upon user consent. Can stress enough on how many times ive clarified that.

[Hicken]

So you're a Microsoft representative? That explains a lot of your comments.

And Microsoft never lies, either, so I guess I can believe you with no fear.

[Software_Lover]

Lets see how long before this makes it to one of the "hottest"

[CrossingEden]

I really like this comment from the comment section
"If the NSA concerns you that much, smash all the phones in your home, light your PC's on fire and sit the corner with the lights off and cry since you're that scared."
Don't forget the tin foil hat. I have absolutely nothing to hide. And I guess people magically forgot that we no longer have to hook kinect up to the console for it to work. ლ(ಠ_ಠლ) Gamers are disappointing these days.

[Shadonic]

tell me about it man, i was playing GTA online with friends earlier and the topic of whose getting battlefield 4 came up to which 2 of them said, Battlefield 4 is crap. when asked why they said because they wasn't into it and the graphics suck.

I was like " WTF of all the things you go after its the graphics !!?? That's like saying your kindergarten drawings look better than Vincent von Gogh's starry night"

[JokesOnYou]

CrossingEden, This is perfect for scaring the hell out of people suffering from Kinectaphobia.

(ლ ಠ_ಠლ)

-lol, I think I'll use this whenever I refer to Kinect.

[Azfargh]

Aaaaaaaaaaand how we can confirm the veracity of this information?

Because MS SAID SO...
Thats brilliant.

one more electronic device to know everything of you.

[HolyDuck]

People are going on about MS's data being unsafe but hell, I can't remember the last time MS lost millions of users card data, whether it was encrypted or not... it's still lost.

[iSpeakTruth__]

Sony isnt the only company that's gotten hacked though. MS is far from safe when it comes to a hacking incident

[HolyDuck]

Did I say Microsoft were safe? No, I didn't so please just don't.

[ziggurcat]

there was never any evidence of that, so nice try. it was always that there was a *possibility* that information *might* have been...

anything that was set up afterwards was always as a "just in case" measure. the fact is that there has been absolutely no reports of any misuse of any information as a result of the hack.

just come out of the closet as a MS fanboy, already, and quit the charade.

[solidjun5]

You are misrepresenting the facts. Not surprising considering your history.

"Did I say Microsoft were safe?...."

You implied it you fanboy. You try to play this "even-handed" game, but we all know who you are. Charade indeed.

[BLAKHOODe]

Not hating on Microsoft, but it's not like they are going to come straight out and say that the government will be watching our every move with Kinect. That would absolutely KILL the Xbox One. So, of course, they are going to deny it even if it is true. And if it IS true, the government will want the Xbox One in every home possible and won't come out and say it either. So, it's a matter of.. who do you trust? And is it worth the risk?

Personally, I don't have anything to hide, but I can imagine those partaking in criminal activity might be a bit nervous about it.

[Hufandpuf]

If criminals were concerned about their privacy, they should destroy every piece of electronics that connect to the internet. And also, why would a criminal be concered about a console?

[Shadonic]

Everyone still going over the NSA thing just reminds me of Cartman from the newest season of south park, if they wanted to spy on you they would. Also is it true that you will have to use a real name for playstation plus on the PS4? if so then wouldnt that also be a major plus for the NSA ? I know Sony is based in Japan and all but you never know what that NSA is up to. *covers up laptop webcam, throws ipod and phone out the window, grabs gun and hides in the tub with the shower curtains closed to avoid the NSA toilet recorders.

[Miraak82]

aww man thanks for reminding me south park started again :p

[Shadonic]

no problem, first 2 eps weren't that funny but still were fun.

[Miraak82]

pff not that im getting an xbox or anything but I do have an Iphone , any pic I take can easily be tracked to my exact location and time taken .. went to go find car insurance and I start getting car insurance ads on my facebook . face it people it's just the world we live in now and if your really concerned and paranoid stop using technology all together , stop using credit cards and all electronic funding , find an under the table job . you anonymity is just an illusion

[Software_Lover]

Basically this. We have caused our own unavoidable fate.

[jmc8888]

You know your argument is about devoid of intelligence as a rock right? Anybody that presses agree or does so silently has one twisted and warped mind. Sorry, I'm sure you are good people, just really, really confused.

You do know that you can place any bad situation and 'live with it' under your mind destroying sophistry.

Your right it's the fascist, unconstitutional, unamerican, exploitative, collapsing society we live in.

...and it's part of the reason of WHY we are living in that way.

Also you are completely wrong about what people need to do. What people need to do is force those institutions BACK into a sane reality and allow the various transactions without being exploited.

It's not paranoia when it's the truth. You might want to reevaluate the non-thinking and definitely bent over and pumped up the butt reality you claim is our only option.

You should end with 'thank you sir may I have another'. But at this point you're just resigned that there is no other way.

There is no reason we can't have a modern society without privacy. We just can't have one without a functioning constitution, which IS the situation we're in.

..and to software lover...no we haven't caused our own unavoidable fate.

It's entirely avoidable, entirely reverse able, and it wasn't cause by us...it was presented to us as legit and everything nefarious was done behind the scenes.

Wake up people, and start learning how to think rather then use bs logic that has no basis in reality.

Only fools, morons, and the mentally ill resign themselves to not stop obvious crimes from happening against them. Let alone allow these crimes be institutionalized and normalized. Again, it's not paranoia when it is #truthfact happening.

[Miraak82]

spout all you want but the technology in this world has grown to big and devastating to reverse the impact. You can only choose to try and protect yourselves as neither you or I can can do anything about it even with all your wishful thinking. Even with all your hard thinking and logic nothing will ever change , even when you try to solve 1 problem a 1000 more arises . Laws and constitutions will always have loopholes and if you really think they will protect you there's always someone or something that will bend them .

Wake up
history is a lie
religion is a control system
money is a hoax
media is a manipulation
government is a corporation
the system is corrupt
you are a commodity
you are a slave

with almost 10 billion people in this world I can only hope for a worldly catastrophic event that will minimize the population to start a new path for human evolution. We all have voices but there just echoes lost in a sea of desperation

[chamber]

After you hear how much access these american companies gave to NSA, i wouldn't trust them with crap when it comes to customer privacy

[TechMech2]

I'm buying an Xbox one, but I can't help but not believe Microsoft for anything.

[feraldrgn]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

Sort of related.

[ElementX]

Nobody wants to look at my ugly mug anyway

[Lboogieskells]

The Kinect is designed to collect data on it's users. That data will be later used and sold to other companies looking to get the most out of their advertisements. By distributing said advertisments to likely consumers, a business saves money by targeting the demographics most likely to use their products or services. Pennello says the consumer would be made aware of such things if they ever came to "fruition".

Make sure you read your user agreements ladies and gentlemen.

[fsfsxii]

I don't wanna get bombarded with ads, especially when paying to a service

[iSpeakTruth__]

Exactly why im getting PS4. I dont wanna pay hundreds of dollars for ads

[RiPPn]

iirc, wasn't one of the features that you could go to a friends house and their xbox would recognise you and log you in?

So either Albert Penello is spouting more BS, or that feature no longer exists.

[jmc8888]

It exists, and Penello is pulling a Microsoft.

In other words...lying through their teeth.

[pyramidshead]

Next gen adverts incoming at 900p.

[Double_O_Revan]

So basically theyre saying the Xbox One is as secure as Skype. Sweet!

[JunioRS101]

The same as how other information doesn't leave your phone or computer...

I don't know about you, but I'm going to choose to NOT be naive.

"No, you're just being paranoid for no reason."

Am I?... Well, what about the mountain-sized pile of evidence that has amassed throughout history that suggests I have every right to be suspicious?

Sure, I'm paranoid... about half as paranoid as you are naive.

[XisThatKid]

WHAT ever you can tell me that Chinese food isn't cat, That means nothing.

[Bryan574]

Glenn Greenwald and Edward Snowden strongly disagree.

[ShwankyShpanky]

So does MS's own former privacy policy adviser.

Ex-Microsoft privacy adviser: I don't trust company after NSA revelations
http://www.theguardian.com/...
(obviously just another insecure Sony fanboy)

[jmc8888]

Pulled this from gaf.

"“How many people are in the living room? Are they taking any action based on the advertising they just saw? Can we watch the customers’ reaction, and if we can, do we have the capability of showing a different ad, or the same ad, depending on what the reaction was?” – Lynn Watts, Xbox Manager (source = CNET)"

Yes Kinect is watching and yes that information is heading somewhere.

But Penello lied because he said it WASN'T doing this...even though anyone with a brain has known for most of the year THIS was going to go on.

It IS going to be a window into your living room and they will be watching you more intently then you are watching the TV.

All this data will be up on the marketplace....open to any of the thousands of corporations currently engaged in buying and selling this data.

Just imagine all the damaging data Kinect can tell your health insurance, your life insurance, your employer, your school, so on and so forth.

..and remember you don't have to be part of the gov't to get a hold of NSA crap. You could literally be any bum off the street.

But trust Microsoft because they say they take your privacy serious. Yes as in they can get serious money for violating it like they have for decades in more ways then you can dream of.

Just remember anything that touches the internet can be spied on, and then some.

[LordDhampire]

Also this article forgot to add, the NSA doesn't spy on us and the US doesn't use drones stateside

[Bryan574]

We are definately heading towards a world described in George Orwells 1984.

[Nodoze]

Who watches them on their CLOSED network to confirm this? Oh that's right, they watch themselves....

Have fun with that. Just like Facebook doesn't sell your data...

I choose the console without the required spy camera. My money is my voice.