Xbox One owners: Kinect is still spying on everything you say...

Dealspwn "Last year, the internet erupted into a white-hot ragestorm when Microsoft revealed that Kinect would quietly listen to everything you say, like a futuristic surveillance device poised to relay your everyday life directly to security agencies. The hot-button topic launched a thousand angry threads, with users terrified of the potential breach of privacy. Then the console launched, and as always, we meekly forgot all about it."

[alextdarling]

Illuminati

[White-Knight]

Microsoft screwed up.
They should have just made the kinect as an accessory for video game entertainment.
Instead, they made it as a marketing tool without any real advancements.
Worst than that, the voice commands are being used by trolls to mess up others gameplay.
Shame...

Unless you are playing a Kinect game, it's better to have it unplugged.

[SonofGod]

Yea but you know that rumored PS4 VR headset? They say that you need the PS Eye camera for motion tracking of the headset. That would make sense since Oculus Rift uses camera aswell.

Soo.. I guess my point is that mandatory Kinect wasn't such a bad idea after all. Now every Xbox One owner is VR ready if there should be one. And I believe MS is working on one too.

[mewhy32]

I agree. The kinect should have been an option not a requirement. With the news that ms had participated in project prism and then saying the kinect would always be on and would always be listening and watching???? Who wants that? Kids that don't know any better and talk their parents into buying this thing, that's who.

[Bernlock]

have you used it white knight? Did you actually buy an xbox one? Cause if you did you would know that it shouldn't be optional. Its the only thing that seperates the two. The OS is built for/around it. Its actually great and I would never go back to using a remote again

[USMC43]

@ sonofgod

The VR Headset hasn't even been officially announced yet, so slow your roll.

[mediate-this]

Troll!!! Not once has some one used voice commands to tirn off my xb1, why do spread fud?? Im taking a bub.

[Giul_Xainx]

I wonder if you say "Xbox, connect to the third eye" if it would bring you to the secret society's chat room where you can see them spying on other people.

[user1439414]

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Its been proven that this spies on you.

[Mr_cheese]

I think the title is a little misleading here. He is talking specifically about the Kinect microphone automatically being on in multiplayer which then broadcasts everything being said to who ever is in the server.

I agree that the microphone shouldn't automatically be on and you should choose to enable that feature rather than having to disable it. Do all games come with an in game indicator that shows you the mic is on?

[FragMnTagM]

If you turn it off it stays off. It doesn't enable itself in each new game you play.

[LexHazard79]

This wouldnt happen if gamers would go to settings and set privacy or mic/chat settings!

[user1439414]

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law....

However the law does not apply to the NSA they are above the law........

[Axios2]

lol

Straight from Sony's privacy policy:

http://www.playstation.com/...

"SCEA may also share personally identifying information with law enforcement or similar organizations, in connection with a criminal investigation, investigation or prevention of fraud or criminal activities, infringement of intellectual property rights or other activity that is suspected to be illegal or may expose our users or SCEA to legal liability."

[Dir_en_grey]

@Axios2
So you can't tell the difference between the information you knowingly provide and knowingly will be shared ahead of time if you were suspected of criminal activity, and being unknowingly recorded and information shared even if you weren't suspected of any criminal activity.

This is why MS will always thrive, because there are always these kinds of stupid people that will blindly back their faith even disregarding logic.

[GarrusVakarian]

Still burying your head in the sand i see? The usual 'ignore the topic and try and reflect it back to Sony' trick that you do in so many of your comments.

As the guy above me says, you can't even tell the difference between spying and information that is shared with the authorities after you are suspected of criminal activity. You just read the title and googled Sony's privacy policy in a blind fit of rage...and ended up making yourself look silly.

"SCEA may also share personally identifying information with law enforcement or similar organizations, in connection with a criminal investigation"

Lmao. Yeah...that's the same thing as a device being plugged into your console that constantly spies on you! /s

My Kinect won't even be taken out of the box. It amazes me how many people just willingly leave it plugged in.

[Infamous298]

*sigh* another Sony Too™ comment.

[Charybdis]

Well yes the same goes for the ps eye PS4 camera which is also always on unless you turn it of.

Both companies should fix the issue, neither company is stupid enough to use their cameras for wire-taping which as you can guess is a rather illegal practice.

It would be rather stupid to let Microsoft fix the issue and turn a blind eye to the same issue/problem on another platform.

[Kryptix]

http://31.media.tumblr.com/...

[UltraNova]

@Charybdis

"Both companies should fix the issue, neither company is stupid enough to use their cameras for wire-taping which as you can guess is a rather illegal practice."

I dont mean to offend you seriously but where have you been living the last 10 years? Under a rock in an underground cave?

Everything and everyone is been spied one way or another. The US gov especially is leading the race!

Wake up people!

[cozomel]

@Charybdis

The PS4 eyes mic can be muted since the last update so keep up with the times man.

And @Axios

Ah man, i dont even know what to say, other than you just made yourself look stupid and like you dont know anything and not to mention very defensive.

[sonarus]

4 million consoles sold 5 million voice commands OMG

Quite frankly i don't really care if kinnect spies on me. Just a waste of resources in my opinion

[cozomel]

4 million sold? where the hell you getting your numbers from? your @$$? try 3.6 or less at best. Otherwise provide a creditable link. and plenty of people do care if the thing is spying on them so speak for yourself

[sonarus]

lol why do you care so much about sales numbers either way? 4million 3.6 million i really don't see the big deal between the 400k but oh well. Nobody likes to be spied on but speaking for myself i know i don't do anything of interest in front of kinnect so i just see it as a waste of resources.

[Mystogan]

This article sounds like it wants to take away from the fun we're having with titanfall now..

haters gonna hate.

[Bernlock]

Where have you been. Thats Maria's goal in life. She posts 50 articles a day nothing but bashing xbox. Probably more on days where there is good news about it

[cozomel]

And deniers gonna deny, defenders gonna defend.

[Team_Litt]

Hey Kinect!!...Play TitanFall 8)

[MonstaTruk]

Or The Bilderburg Group, whichever name you choose is correct...

[TrueJerseyDevil]

Yea the Kinect might be listening to everything you say but Microsoft can't listen to everyone at one time. They probably will not listen in on people unless they get complaints against them. Also why is this news? The Government does this all the time

[Robochobo]

This has nothing to do with Microsoft listening into people's conversations.

If everyone would read the article, they'd see it's about the Kinect automatically transmitting voice in multiplayer lobbies unless you specifically turn off the options.

[TrueJerseyDevil]

Who cares? You should look at the settings then. I am always in party chat, when I play. Also when I am not and have my Mic disconnected the kinect doesn't work in game chat and I have not changed the settings

[DJStotty]

maybe they should edit the "spying" out of the title then and rephrase to "other people can hear you unless you turn the option of using the kinect for party chat off in settings due to the new update of automatically turning on party chat" which is what xbox one owners asked for. #facepalm

[NeloAnjelo]

May be MS should just listen to customer's opinions and wants, rather than Kinect. The issue isn't MS listening, it's who else, who has access to this information and how it can be used illegally.

Many voice filters can be appiled to pick up specific words and phrases. This software is easy to come by and easy to use.

People blindy use Kinect.

[bleedsoe9mm]

exactly and that system would probably make them billions maybe more valuable than windows

[cozomel]

"The Government does this all the time"

So its ok to do, but i bet you dont like it when the gov does it, but yet you try and dismiss MS does, ridiculous, this generation of people are just ridiculous

[jackanderson1985]

Before any more jump into a whole "OH MY GOD THEY'RE SPYING STILL" he's talking about the fact the kinect is auto on for in game voice chat and that he can hear people talking about stuff.... nothing to do with actually spying more comments on the stupidity of certain gamers

[Robochobo]

Who would've thought something that is meant to listen into people talking about stuff hears what you say when you don't turn it off, or stop it from listening!

[Fireseed]

Funy cause theirs this thing called an "Option" in these things called "Setting" where you can do this other thing called "Turning off game chat"

Weird Sci-Fi stuff I know, but I think it's manageable.

[Shadonic]

but but but.... Kinect!!

[oOIRNMUNKEYOo]

I know right! Mind you been playing PvZ and so many people don't know this. I've had kids fighting a guy on phone arguing with someone and someone else singing to them self.

It should only work for voice commands and Skype or yoiu should have to turn it on in game. Or even a pop up on screen saying you are talking via kinect

[BX81]

Oh god, I can't stand kids with mics.

[corvusmd]

Blah blah blah...it's a huge conspiracy!!! Someone's tinfoil hat is itchy or they are upset about all the positive XB1 news lately...quick, everyone get rid of your phones, computer, email addresses, bank accounts, gps devices, cars, ...anything that connects to the internet...avoid all cameras and spy drones...you are all being spied on 24/7...big brother is gonna get you now that XB1 has been released...before that, Government spy agencies were just sitting around with nothing to do...but NOW...they can spy on kids in their rooms to find out what games they are playing...Gotcha terrorists!!!

[Castle333]

Someone didnt read the article, and quite frankly people like you are the ones that deserve to get their identity stolen or credit card numbers for being complete fools. Ignorance is not always bliss. Do yourself a favor and read the article and stop jumping to conclusions i know you are brainwashed by mainstream media and all but you can still read.

[ZombieDust]

Actually cant exactly blame corvusmd here. Now you would be lying if you didnt assume basically the same thing. And by not clicking or reading the article he didn't give the writer his precious little clicks and didn't end up wasting his time and numbing his skull on a pointless article. More power to him tbh.

[Bigpappy]

Who cares. Find something substantive to write about and stop scaring the children.

[SteveQuinn]

Just unplug the kinect.

[ZombieDust]

Its suprising how many people still think it has to be plugged in at all.

[from the beach]

wooo, spooky!

[CrossingEden]

Maria, would you kindly stop posting articles that are written by people who don't have the mental capacity to access the settings tab on their console? ლ(ಠ_ಠლ)

[G20WLY]

It would be easier if they gave the option to have this setting on or off during initial set up. That way people make their own choice.

[ruefrak]

It's an easy fix. As soon as the Xbox turns on, you simply have to say "XBOX - Stop spying on me" and it's done.

[urwifeminder]

I find it really sexy.

[mrpsychoticstalker]

LOL, good morning mariahelfutura.

[GarrusVakarian]

We seem to have the same avatar.

Are we going to have to duel to the death?

On topic: If you don't want something listening to every word you say, then unplug it, that's what i'll be doing.

[DJStotty]

Sigh this again. Better stop stroking my spuds in front of the camera then :(

[SITH]

Misleading headline of the year goes to...

[cfc83]

Some people are not intelligent enough to understand the corruption and influence corporations have on society, and what they would do if they could get away with it. The more smarter people try to explain, the more staunch they become with their response of 'just turn it off'. Maybe they just aren't for listening or learning. By the way, playing 'Watch Dogs' with your 'kinect on'....do you understand ?

[MightyNoX]

His recount of the couple who were fighting during the game was very entertaining.

[falviousuk]

website looking for hits, nothing else to see here, move along .....

[ZombieDust]

Wow misleading title much lol... People need to start writing interesting articles that people want to read instead of this bullcrap with a title that doesnt apply in order to get clicks.

[pornflakes]

Who cares? If would care about Kinect i should FIRST freeze my Facebook/ twitter/ google account.

Idiotic news....

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Click bait article 9,999,999,999....I could go on but you get the gist.

As for the article... intelligence seems to be missing.

[WeAreLegion]

It's 2014. If someone wants to spy on you, they'll find a way. They don't need Kinect to do it.

[stiggs]

Each time that I read a "scandalous" headline regarding a perceived fault of the XBOX One I think "gee, I wonder who submitted this article" /s.

It's always that lovable scamp Maria on his holy quest to destroy a product that he neither wants nor owns.

It must be tiring exerting all of that hate and anger toward a piece of silicon and plastic. I guess that people find their meaning in life in the strangest places.

[Thatlalala]

Do you own a cellphone? If you do they have been watching, and listening to you for a decade at least already. Even worse if you linked to your fb I can not only find your address, email, or a way to socially engineer info from you, could even check your GPS and meet you for lunch. Your already exposed. stop acting surprised that corporations are gathering, processing, and selling information anymore, its common practice.

[sgtGanGreen]

My laptop camera is watching me for years lol

[G20WLY]

Well, if you will visit "those" sites...

[Maml07]

Spying spying spying
I'm just playing and don't care about spying
What will they see? My sopha? Home theater speakers? Full recycle bin?
I'm not a president or famous man to care about spying, maybe some spy girls fall in love with me later lol

[kewlkat007]

Sounds like another misleading MariaHelFutura headline..

[HomerDog]

people should really start reporting maria. all fanboy flame bait articles

[The_devils_chum]

Im not going to go into to much detail but the kinect's primary purpose was to collect facial recognition data. Mattricks brain child invisioned harvesting huge sums of facial data to sell to give all of us drones/consumers. In america your facial map/image can be baught and sold without your permission unlike europe. Theres a data war out there and theres a huge net slowly closing in on everybody and soon all ip addresses will have names, faces, ect.... microsoft was willing to lead the way for a price. Dont believe me do a little research on facial recognition and meta data.

[HomerDog]

F U Mariahelfotura

[Blues Cowboy]

***READ THE ARTICLE!***

Behind the baity headline, it's a joke piece about Kinect chat privacy, but with a serious message.

[poboy993]

Don't flatter yourselves. You are not that special. No one really cares about you in your underwear and what pizza toppings you are getting.

[bleedsoe9mm]

voice comes out of your tv "slowly remove the tinfoil hat and put down the bong"

[S2Killinit]

One step closer to loosing our privacy rights, good job everybody

[No1up]

The dam thing can't hardly understand what I yell at it half the time, I'm not worried about it spying... Thats like an 85 year old person with bad hearing spying on me.

[RebelWAC]

Very good and informative article that goes for both Xbox One and Ps4 owners. Thanks for the read.

[True_Samurai]

I've had that feature turned off when I first got the kinect 0_o I always use my headset. Mods take down this article the title is completely misleading idk why you guys even let her post things.

[Flames76]

So is the PS4 so whats your point moron?

[That_Guy2u2]

it doesnt come with ps eye

[tommygunzII]

If there is a person that monitors what is said on Xbox Live they can't be paid enough. I couldn't listen for more than 10 minutes.

[headblackman]

if they want you, or wanna know what you're doing, then it's too many ways to do so. there is nothing that you can do to stop it. so just have fun or live as the amish live. so that means for you to take that cellphone,computer,tv,car,and send it all to me so you don't have to be spied upon. let me help save you from that kind of torture.

[Dorwrath]

Companies have been spying for years. Your phone, your computer oh and most who bitch about privacy post their whole life story and all over Facebook.

Nothing like complaining after the horse has already bolted.

[That_Guy2u2]

yea but those are more secretive and you know voices lol its different when its a camera staring at you all day

[Dorwrath]

Lol you have a phone, you have laptop, iMac, they all come with them built in.

[That_Guy2u2]

just umplug it, they probably wasnt using it anyway

[TheRedButterfly]

Time to break out the tinfoil hats everyone!!