Microsoft unaware of NSA mass surveillance of Xbox LIVE, done without consent

XMNR: The latest accusations of spying Monday from the classified documents taken by Edward Snowden put the gaming world in the spotlight. According to the documents, not only did the NSA and its British counter-part have agents scouring the World of Warcraft and Second Life but the Guardian claimed that the spy agencies were performing mass surveillance against Xbox LIVE users as well.

[theBAWSE]

don't believe a word Microsoft says

government really take the piss, wonder if they using PSN aswell

[Pope_Kaz_Hirai_II]

theBAWSE + 25m ago
don't believe a word Microsoft says

government really take the piss, wonder if they using PSN aswell

Yep just turn off that dodgy camera or cover it with something lol.

[D-riders]

ok

[cleft5]

The NSA might find it harder to do stuff like this with Sony because it is a Japanese company. Meaning it is a foreign company so it wouldn't necessarily fall under the laws of the USA and if they where to attempt it and Sony contested this it would be made public fairly fast. The point of what the NSA is doing is to gather data covertly, lawsuits sort of kill the whole covert thing and then their is the potential of a bunch of issues related to the US government attempting to covertly access a foreign company's records. It's probably one of those things that fall under being more trouble than it's worth.

[NoLongerHereCBA]

@cleft5, since when does the NSA only focus on Americans and do they feel like they are limited by the law?

[jukins]

@cleft5 Saying the nsa wouldnt spy on a foreign company because of "laws" is kinda ignorant. At this point we should assume that they spy on whoever wherever whenever. Hell its rumor'd that they've tapped the main cable lines on the bottom of the sea floor. I dont think laws are going to stop them.

btw not calling you ignorant just the statement.

[Conzul]

while it might be harder, that won't stop them from trying.
The spies go where the people are; and the people went with Playstation.

[AKS]

@cleft5

The NSA's actual purpose is supposed to be monitoring foreign intelligence and communications, so I find that doubtful. In addition, they've spied on tons of citizens in other countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Germany, and France. Brazil is actually considering re-routing their internet through Europe just to avoid more US spying.

[rainslacker]

He's not talking about spying on the company though. He's talking about spying on it's customer's user base for their own purposes, which are likely of no interest to Sony.

As a Japanese company, they don't have to be complicit in such an act, thus they have the possibility of "blowing the whistle".

It's not to say that the NSA couldn't do it without Sony's knowledge. That is what MS is claiming happened to them.

[hazardman]

@cleft

It is not harder for NSA. All business in USA have ri abide by US laws. So yeah Sony Japan might be out of reach but tou still have Sony USA. No one thing is out of the reach of government!! Unless your off the grid..

[GUTZnPAPERCUTZ]

Oh yeah so don't believe Blizzard or Google either then? lol

[cleft5]

Why would anyone believe the word of any corporation, let alone that of a major company. A corporation's obligation is to be profitable, not to be fair and honest. When a corporation is fair and honest the motivating factor tends to be profits gained from being fair and honest.

This isn't true for every company, but you are fooling yourself if you think this isn't true for a company like Microsoft, Apple, Google, EA, Activision Blizzard, etc. This isn't about hating on Microsoft, but rather being an informed consumer.

[Blackdeath_663]

sony is a Japanese company, NSA is American based.none of the companies allegedly involved so far are outside of the USA. google, microsoft(including skype), apple, yahoo, AOL, Paltalk and facebook are all American companies.

[notyobizhwispndmymny]

Ignorance is truly bliss. You must be a complete tool if you believe for one second that Japan doesn't spy on its own citizens using whatever means. I can't even believe your sheer stupidity. Every government spies on its citizens one way or another. NSA just got caught so they are the scapegoats.

[The_Troll_Whisperer]

@notyobiz(goddamn! you have a piss poor username)

Screw you, you have no proof of whatever you are saying

[wolfsaviorzx]

I don't trust anyone but I can just disconnect kinect and xbox one still works so don't know why they bother spying on people if it's not mandatory. Phones have cameras and mics mandatory AND there is no option to turn them off. Xbox One gives you much more control over it than Android and especially IOS. Anyone with an Iphone might as well hold a sign saying "Fuck Me".

[MONOLITHICIDE]

vaticproject.blogspot.com/2013 /12/who-really-did-fukishima-fa lse-flag.html?m=1

If any are interested!

[Back-to-Back]

MS unaware?

Hmm thats why kinect was mandatory right MS. Seriously the more they talk the more damage they do.

[dazzrazz]

Hardly believe that considering M$ was one of the very first companies to hand out its email domain under NSA spyglass. Now they just playing along to look innocent. Let's be serious it would hurt them really bad if they made an official statement to the public saying they were willingly participating in this secret Stasi invigilation

[tagan8tr]

And as an added bonus M$ gave the NSA built in camera,this stuff just writes itself.

[Blackdeath_663]

..and they bought skype. i can see why.

[NoLongerHereCBA]

Yes; because MS only buys companies with x-amount of billions to spy for NSA. Keep dreaming if you think shareholders will take such nonsense.

[wolfsaviorzx]

Kinect doesn't need to be connected. Cameras on Android and IOS Phones can't be turned off so really don't see how you jump to that conclusion. The Kinect was always just competition for the Wii (Kinect Sports Rivals is ok, still wish it had traditional controls).

[tagan8tr]

@Blackdeath yeah that's what MS does they are desperately trying to stay relevant so they buy established technology to pass off as their own.. Like I said before they have Google envy aka a relevant company. Aside from the bone MS fails on most things windows phone,bing,windows 8 and my favorite the zune lol.

[rainslacker]

The Zune and Windows phone actually aren't that bad. Surface is even pretty good, albeit expensive.

However, that doesn't equate to market success. Windows Phone is getting there. I never would have tried it but MS gave me a free one a few years ago, so I didn't have to get a cell phone contract...which is nice and cheap. I'll use it till it breaks.

[XboxFun]

And yet...

http://www.networkworld.com...

http://www.valuewalk.com/20...

And many more articles that state MS is against the NSA and is fighting to keep their customer info private.

[edgeofsins]

Microsoft only started "acting" against it after they were found out. Just like with the DRM policies for X1. When everyone heard of it and lashed out at them Microsoft pulled a 180. They are extremely self-centered and care nothing for customers until after customers stop dealing with their crap.

Why are you blindly trying to justify a criminal-like company?

[DragonKnight]

Microsoft were the very first company to jump aboard the PRISM program. They aren't against PRISM, they're against the negative PR that's been levied against them because of PRISM. If Microsoft really wanted to fight this, then they'd sue the government for unlawful coercion and take the fight to them hard, but they really don't want to because the NSA helps them get their B.S. advertising push going forward.

[4logpc]

Cant wait to see these comments.

OT: It is law that they have to abide by the NSA and government regulation's, just as every other company.

[Queasy]

Right but that is for individual instances where a lawful warrant has been issued by state or federal enforcement agencies.

The leaks from Snowden today say that the NSA performed mass surveillance /collection on LIVE users. That's a different animal and one that any company will likely not comply with.

[JeffGUNZ]

In my almost 10 years working with the US Government and being very familiar with federal statute, you do not need a lawful warrant to conduct surveillance. You need probable cause, and in some cases I have seen reasonable suspicion for surveillance. I think you are thinking of wire taping and/or other "broader" laws that fall in with the "US Freedom Act". Either way, MS, like all other companies have to abide by regulations of the NSA and MS will have to provide the channels for the NSA to use if needed. The NSA will use those lines when reasonable cause indicates a suspect may be a threat to the laws, mainly foreign and/or domestic terrorism.

If the NSA is going against this, which is just hearsay at this point, then they are in violation.

[KarrBOMB]

Yeah no warrant is needed any longer. The Patriot Act allows for spying, search and seizure without approval from judges. Agencies can do as they see fit based on their assessment of threat. Do they abuse that policy, probably. But most who are in power do. Covering the cameras doesn't work, any I.T professional can activate cameras and mic remotely without knowledge of the parties, I've watched a friend do it.

[Lord Anubis]

they should learn from Google and disclose when it happens as the other companies do. There is no excuse.

"Microsoft helped the NSA get around its encryption systems so the agency could more easily spy on users of its services, "
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/t...

[Deadpoolio]

Yeah every other company based in the USA, you know Sony is a Japanese based company so it's more likely than not harder for them to do this with Sony or any company outside good ol MURICA

[Pogmathoin]

Depression rates increased on NSA agents after spying on the sad life of some of you fanboys. Made a truly grim picture I believe. You also give them the keys to your internet life every day when you let of steam on porn sites.

[rainslacker]

It may be law, but they can publicly dispute it or disclose that they are going to start monitoring their customers. They didn't do that. If they wanted to keep the NSA out of their back yard, they could have easily found a way to circumvent them coming in, and the NSA would have been powerless to cause MS any real harm.

Also, the "national security" loophole for what justifies a law nowadays is being way overused.

[Steven21]

RRRRRRIIIIIIIGGGGGGHHHHHHHHTTT TTTT

[ssbains]

Disconnect your Kinect sensors!!!! The Power of the Cloud is also likely tapped to!

[JeffGUNZ]

Swing and a miss.

[spektical]

government has tons of gag orders. Its sad that we are relying on this tech companies to champion a full reverse on NSA practices.

Nothing is safe right now with NSA in town.

[IcicleTrepan]

I bet you have a mobile phone with a camera, gps tracker, etc..

[KonsoruMasuta]

Even if he does, that doesn't mean he can't speak out against spying.

[Volkama]

I think you're replying to the wrong person. Spektical is pointing out that the government are the ones behind the surveillance, and the likes of MS/Google/Apple/Blizzard are having to fight back whilst simultaneously taking all the heat. They are not allowed to defend themselves.

None of this is in Microsoft's interest at all. Seems to be everyone is a victim of the NSA, the people being spied on and the companies being used to achieve it.

[-Foxtrot]

Yeah...this is one of the many reasons I want a Kinect-less Xbox One bundle in the future

No way am I setting that up in my room...especially with all this NSA stuff going on

[UnHoly_One]

I have to say, I will never understand comments like this.

I understand the general desire for privacy, I really do.

BUT... What the heck are you doing in your room that you are so worried the government will see?

Even if you were being spied on... Unless your room is in the dorm of an Al-Qaeda training camp, I don't think you have too much to worry about.

I just don't get the paranoia about this one single camera, when we have God-knows how many other internet connected cameras and microphones around us constantly day in and day out.

[Rainstorm81]

Maybe.....just maybe....he doesn't want to be spied on by his game console

Wheather its Al Qaeda, Pot smoking or just jerking off.....no one wants to be spied on for the hell of it.......at least i dont

[SirBradders]

Your comment is totally wrong are you for real are you actually saying it is ok for people to monitor you.

How would you like it if i watched you all day when you showered, wanked, shagged, eat, play with your kids etc...

Remember it is just normal human beings that are doing the surveillence and with our track record it is prone to corruption and manipulation.

Also my phone and pc can be more secure with the right measures taken.

This is just another step in the direction of controlling everything and everyone and stripping away our rights.
The methods and costs of all this does not outway the risk the best form of lowering criminal activity is through proper education not a monitored state.

[XboxFun]

Unholy you are right...

How does anyone on this site even know they aren't being spied on now with lap top cams, cell phone cams and the likes.

I love how all these gamers are terrified that the NSA will be peaking in on them while they play Deadrising 3 or pretend to be worried when they have no plans on purchasing this supposed spy system.

Ooooh the info the NSA can get while watching couch potatoes veg out and play video games. With that stunning research they could use it to fight off world aliens and underworld snow demons.

You guys keep those tin foil hats and keep looking to the stars. I'll be playing my Xbox One in the buff, let the NSA use that to foil some terrorist plot.

[UnHoly_One]

You guys are missing the point. I'm not saying I WANT to be spied on.

I'm saying that:

1) I don't think there is a chance in hell of it happening, anyway

and

2) I don't have anything to hide. So if my living room footage gets archived amongst the BILLIONS of hours of other footage in the imaginary part of the NSA database that this stuff will go, there isn't anything for them to see anyway, and no reason for any real human to ever take enough interest to even look into it.

That's the thing you guys don't seem to get. There is an exactly ZERO percent chance that a real human could watch all the footage captured by these cameras, so there would be a lot of sifting through it with computers looking for certain things of interest.

The only time a real person would see any of it is if the computer marked it as a potential red flag. Which wouldn't happen to 99.9% of "average" people.

Edit: Thank you, XboxFun, for NOT being insane.

[hardcorehippiez]

its simple really , if they can look into your room what is stopping that getting hacked and some other undesirables looking into your life also. im sorry when im out around town im being watched all the time, this does not bother me but i draw the line in my own home and deserve my privacy after a days work. avoiding xbox now at all costs .

[UnHoly_One]

It really just blows my mind that anyone would even think they are really spying using Kinect.

I can't honestly think of anything more asinine in recent memory.

[bsquwhere]

I like how your saying this unlikly to happen when, in fact, there are several articles today pointing out that its happening. Maybe if you weren't a blind fanboy and be in constant denial that MS would do such things, you could see it.

[rainslacker]

Great. I'll come over and set up a closed circuit camera in your living room and bed room and broadcast it on the web for all to see.

I mean, it's not like you're doing anything wrong right?

[T2]

i agree with your point about the "one single camera" but your "what the heck are you doing" comment is way off base. In what world do you believe we should have no privacy inside of our homes that we own? I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you don't own your own home. it doesn't matter if the person is cleaning their guns or naked eating cereal, everyone has a basic right to privacy. If you wish to give away your rights go ahead, but don't try to drag others down with you. i bought a house in a rural area for a reason. so I can relax in the privacy of my own home. and no I don't have other cameras in my home for the government to freely browse.

[UnHoly_One]

Actually right now I own two houses because I can't get anyone to buy my old one. lol.

Seriously, though, I just don't get it.

Think about this.

Let's assume for a moment that the worst possible scenario is true, and the NSA has full control over every Kinect.

Fast forward a few years, and let's say there are 50 million XB1's sold.

Now, even if they only record with them when the console is on, I'm going to guess an average of 8 hours per day of usage.

That's 400 million hours of footage every single day. Do you honestly believe that they have the storage capacity for that, or the manpower to watch it all?

My point with the "what are you doing?" Comment is that if this were all true, they would only monitor the people they had a reason to be suspicious of in the first place. You or I would never be monitored or recorded because we aren't up to anything bad.

[curtis92]

Just out of curiosity, if the NSA wants info, can you refuse? I'm legitimately asking.

[spektical]

the fisma courts wont show anything publicly anyway. pretty much no.

[lets_go_gunners]

Nope. Everything is monitored but not supervised. Though the government cannot ask for of information of the masses they can only ask for individuals.

[Queasy]

If a company feels that a request for information is unlawful, they can refuse to comply. How often that really happens with the threat of the federal govt coming down on your business like a ton of bricks is anybody's guess.

[RegorL]

Of cause you can refuse, but why would you?
Are you against the government?
You, yourself, are a fair target for surveillance!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/...

[HmongAmerican]

How does one get a job at NSA. Hey, I want to sit and listen while getting pay.

[JeffGUNZ]

The NSA tracks down domestic and foreign terrorists and keeps this country safe. Sure, you may not like how they do their job but if they keep people safe, so be it. Learn how it is ACTUALLY used instead of random gaming sites. They don't sit there and listen to people's conversations and hope they find terrorists or violent criminals in the making. This is the typical response from someone uneducated with their department.

Just like most law enforcement, everyone hates them until they help or save you.

[Volkama]

Indeed most of this "spying" is automated, the vast majority that is collected is never viewed by a human being at all.

Is it still an invasion of privacy if no human sees or hears? Is privacy even a legitimate right in modern society?

It's all far from black and white. Personally I just hope their data snooping doesn't add anything to my latency, I need to be winning my online games!

[JessiePinkmanYo]

JeffGUNZ-it's also a flawed system where people's rights are violated and wrongly convicted every day. It's all good until you're wrongly accused, subjected to illegal search and seizure, embarrassment, lawyers fees, etc. All to often, authority abuses these powers. Even in other documents leaked by Snowden our government was spying on allied leaders.
Spying or posing in terrorist sites, great. Watching some kid play CoD is a waste of time and money. Also, if terrorists are down to using CoD or WoW as a training tool, the joke will be on them when they try it in real life.
In closing, we read about (unjust) connections between movie shootings, massacres and video games all the time. This just opens the door to putting players of certain games (like GTA) on watch lists, and having their rights and privacy raped.

[SirBradders]

Any clued up terrorist or criminal will cover their tracks. They are waisting all these billions on catching small fry and they still couldn't prevent some of the most major terrorost attacks on earth to date. With all their power why didn't they shoot down the 3 planes during 9/11 seems fishy to me and also what about all these crazy killers walking into schools, in my opinion its resources that could be diverted to to better security initiatives.

[InTheLab]

Don't waste your breath. These people would like more Boston style bombings than have the government do what needs to be done to protect the country.

It kills me when s*** like this pops up and people instantly think the government cares about your porn habits or how many people you call a N***** and F***** over Live. That is not what this program is about. No one gives a damn about Average Joe American.

While I agree it's a slippery slope spying on allies, too many forget that not too long ago, Japan was a major threat and China still is. Who knows what our "friends" are up too.

These people act as if we shouldn't be spying on Russia and Pakistan.

[DonkeyWalrus]

You are deceived. You think terrorists are out there discussing their evil plans in some Xbox Live party chat? It doesn't matter what anyone thinks of them, what they are doing is unconstitutional. They don't care about protecting the country, they only care about protecting themselves.

[JeffGUNZ]

@Inthelab

Exactly. People here blow my mind. Working with the government and seeing the things I have seen, the general population have ZERO idea of what is actually going on around them. They get their information from TV shows and movies. It's BS. "Wrongly convicted every day", give me a break. The US legal system is like a funnel, almost ALL cases plea out and don't go to trial. Why is that? Because people are guilty of the crimes brought against them and want the least punishment they can get.

The NSA is not out there like any of you think they are. I do not work for that department, but I have had contact with the agency multiple times through work and it's hilarious to see what some of you people think they are. These people spend a majority of every day protecting this country from potential terrorist attacks, which are abundant. If any of you think they are watching you play COD or sitting on the couch watching netflix then you are completely misinformed. All the NSA does, which MS HAS to comply with via law, is gaining access to channels to monitor suspected criminals. They are not sitting aimlessly at their desk waiting for you to beat off or swear at little kids.

Look at it this way: The NSA doesn't give a sh*t if you're in your apartment smoking weed while playing GTA, they are there to make sure a chemical attack doesn't occur while your smoking weed playing GTA in your apartment.

Also, stop the age old, "The constitution says...", I highly doubt that the founding fathers anticipated airplanes flying into sky scrappers, chemical attacks with nerve agents, and nuclear missiles that can travel half way around the world.

[JessiePinkmanYo]

JeffGUNZ-that's great you are completely aware of everything the NSA does. You have complete trust that no rights are ever violated. Now tell us, how many terrorists where nabbed from Intel gained via WoW, CoD, or GTA? You also state they're not after the pot smoking teens playing CoD-Agreed, BUT this IS alarming for me being a veteran. Certain politicians have labeled my kind as domestic terrorists, or at risk of being one. I don't want to be put on a watch list PERIOD, whether for playing GTA, especially from an organization that doesn't even have trust, nor competence to even conduct it's own affairs from within its own ranks. I apologize for the long post, and the tin foil hat theory, but point blank, resources could be better suited elsewhere, and that I'll support.

[JsonHenry]

Lol, even though the Snowden PRISM documents showed they were more than happy to give them a back door to their servers/databases.

Right. They didn't know. And I have a bridge on the moon to sell you.

[Hicken]

SOLD!

[fattyuk]

I swear there's a joke here to be made about a pay wall but I can't figure one out!

[MightyNoX]

Silver Membership ($30): Can only use the internet for updates
Gold Membership($60): Can play online and watch Netflix.

Platinum Membership($100): Can opt out from having your data sent to the NSA

[T2]

hey i always wondered when xbox was going to roll out "platinum memberships" of some kind. not kidding, just wondered what they would include.

[optimus]

When it involves combating or preventing terrorism in this country EVERYone and ANYone is fair game. The best thing for you to do to avoid being "harrased" by the govt. is simply don't say or do suspicious things while you're online...period... Did people not see Enemy Of The State? It's not as far fetched as you might think.

[Haki1112]

You keep telling yourself that I thought I live in America where we have freedom of speech. We shouldn't live in fear of the govt the sooner people see this the better

[optimus]

The "freedom of speech" you speak of is very limited. It's simply an "excuse" our govt uses to "control" and maintain order within the population... Yelling "fire" is considered "free speech" but do it in a movie theatre when there is no fire WILL get you arrested. You can say or write that you hate the president all you want but the minute you write details of what you would do to him and mail it to someone you are subject to federal prosecution if the court sees fit.

[rainslacker]

Right. Orwellian control over the populace is the only way to keep us safe and feeling all warm and fuzzy.

With all the surveillance that's been enacted and violations to privacy that have taken place since 9/11 in the interest of national security, can we really say that terrorism has been lessened? Isn't it easy to say that the complete opposite is actually true? And isn't it possible that these measures are not only ineffective on a grand scale, but also cause a feeling of resentment among the populace that these so called Knights of the State are supposed to protect?

Where is the quantifiable evidence that supports how many of these "Enemy of the State's" have been taken down to justify the complete and rather overt removal of our rights to privacy?

I don't worry about the government spying on me, nor do I worry that the authorities will be banging on my door as I am a boring, common person living a boring common life. But that does not excuse those with a bit of power over extending their influence to do whatever they want to circumvent the constitution and my own personal rights.

[ricochetmg]

I hate ms is catching crap for this but im pretty sure psn is the same way.

[KonsoruMasuta]

This is why I makes sure all my activity is untraceable! After every online session I switch providers, change my name, and destroy the electronic equipment I was using.

[christocolus]

I totally agree...every popular online network has most likely been under surveilance. I wish people would be mature enough to realise that and stop being so ignorant

[T2]

this in no way counters any real arguments that people have rights.

"them too, them too" sounds like victim-statement again.

[Rainstorm81]

Well there aren't ANY foreign companies on there.....im sure the NSA is more able to manipulate the American companies as they see fit.

The NSA is a United States Government agency after all

[ziggurcat]

*cough*BS*cough*

[hiptanaka]

Yes yes, done without MS's consent.

[sungam3d]

Now the question is, whats worse.

1: Microsoft is lying to you all

2: Microsoft is telling the truth and actually NOT knowing about the NSA monitoring their entire network?

Either way, it's pretty fucking bad...

[JessiePinkmanYo]

Tax dollars hard at work. I'm no g-man or spook, but World of Warcraft and XBL rank pretty low on my list of terrorist locations.
I live in an apartment and had a problem with people looking in my unit. I'll actually GIVE them something to look and talk about, and they'll be sorry they ever did.

[Kingoftherodeo]

You guys are idiots the nsa spy on you on whatever they feel like it. Its the nsa screw your privacy to them national security comes first

[DxTrixterz]

It's not only Kinect that can be used to spy on us. It can also be our messages we send to other people and voice chat as well.

[Arty84]

with such paranoia I wonder what most of the people on N4g are doing in front of the camera?

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

To that, I can only say...
What camera?XD

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Wow....I hope this doesn't spread out to encapsulate Sony and Nintendo, too.
That would suck.
Though, Nintendo lacks any sort of "eye" peripheral through which to actually spy. I doubt they'd get much info out of Miiverse, either.XD

[TheUndertaker85]

Yup, not like they don't have cameras built into the 3DS, 2DS, WiiU gamepad...

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Point to you, but the camera in the pad isn't active most of the time.
Only during calls between players, IIRC...
Same to the 3DS camera now that I think of it... Neither of them are really using their cameras for games recently.
But yeah, you were right about them having it. It's just that they're so under-utilized that I forgot they existed.XD

[Kingoftherodeo]

If you are so worried about the nsa why do you even have a computer? Why even have internet?

[KonsoruMasuta]

Again, having these devices does not mean we can not speak out against being spied on.

That's like saying "If you're worried about being robbed, why leave your house?"

We should be able to use these devices without our personal privacy being violated. The majority of us aren't terrorist or criminals. This goes to every company, not just MS.

[Kingoftherodeo]

Almost every company works with the nsa they just dont openly come out and say it till exposed. I agree we shouldnt have to worry about our privacy but you are living in a world where technology rules and almost everyone is connected via a smart device. If i work for the nsa i do not care about your privacy i care about doing my job. If you got nothing to hide why care? That is their logic this is an issue that has to be taken up with the goverment

[iliimaster]

i bet you anything M$ got a nice chunk of change when it was suppose to be mandatory always on always connected they let them drop in all and any skype video/calls why not this HD webcam? its really perverted and tired of these voyer freaks none of this will go away its just going to get worse the more they collect the more they will want from EVERYONE

[SilentGuard]

More reason for not having Kinect plugged in.

[hazardman]

You can turn it off. Its what i did. No need to disconnect.

[XiSasukeUchiha]

M$ Good job basically lying with your cosumers and bs u let do this time evil laugh http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[takethehill]

Ok. To all who think the NSA can not spy on psn because it is owned by a Japanese company really need to stop and just think a bit. Research a bit. Seriously your making yourselves look like fools. We are talking about people who can hack into foreign satellites .www.nytimes.com/interactive/2 013/11/03/world/documents-show - nsa-efforts-to-spy-on-both-ene m ies-and-allies.html?_r=0. Besides USA's psn is probably done right here in USA by Sony corp of america. Which is in new York. Which is in america.

[TristanPR77]

"Microsoft unaware of it"

Lol lol

Oh sweet Jesus I almost die laughting

[notyobizhwispndmymny]

http://www.defensenews.com/...

Just leaving this here for those that think snooping is exclusive to the NSA

[ironmonkey]

Ms doesnt know shit about their own hardware.

[Lucifun]

IMHO, as long as you live in America, or any other country, and use technology you can be tracked by the NSA or something equivalent to them, whether you deserve it or not, because in the end the government is doing what they think they have to do to keep the people they serve save. If you don't like, then leave, and also, I am not going to lie, it creeps me out that they are spying on me (just like when I was scared of the fact that God or Santa Clause was always watching me) BUT, they are human and also think differently from us, so they will use they way they think is the correct way to protect the country they serve, no matter how much people hate them for it or the methods they have to use, just like a parent, older sibling, spouse, or legal guardian will protect the people that matters to them whether the other party likes it or not.

[KontryBoy706]

L.I.E.S.

[ilovefatgirls]

Dont forget everyone the harddrives in both the xbox and ps4 are proprietary, so technically not yours and thus one might argue any date contained on said hard drive isnt yours either up to and including your biometric data and every bit of information input and stored
bet letting the kinect scan you seems like a great idea now..
hope youve all been reading your t's and c's cause itll happen sooner rather than later that microsoft get 'hacked' and loses all that information they shouldnt really be storing or have access too

[Atomicjuicer]

We need a law to imprison those who accept surveillance for safety. Obviously safety matters more to them than freedom so prison is where they should be.

The people who advocate surveillance should be imprisoned for damaging human freedom.

Now tell me you've "nothing to hide" :)

[SynestheticRoar]

Microsoft please stop your lying.

[gcolley]

They signed in 2007, they knew. USA company now means NSA company to the rest of the world.

[mmj]

It must be great working for the NSA and being able to log into people Xbox's and spy on people over Kinect.

[troylazlow]

Sony would never spy on us!