Take Off The Tinfoil Hats

The paranoid conspiracy theorists are at it again. This time, they've convinced themselves that the Xbox One is some kind of ultra high-tech "spy" device, designed to watch and listen to everything you do and say 24 hours a day. Of course, there's absolutely no evidence to back up these theories, but that's how delusional people think. Unless someone proves them wrong (which they know is impossible because the console is still months away from release), they will maintain their positions. Conspiracy theories by nature do not rely on evidence or facts; they are generally just a way of expressing hatred towards an individual, group, government, or company.

I've seen too many comments lately like:

Kinect - always watching - always listening.

If you don't like MS's stance on used games - fine. There's evidence to support those positions. If you don't like MS's focus on the Xbox One's multimedia capabilities - fine. Again, there's evidence to support those arguments. If anyone has a link to a reputable source that says Kinect will spy on users 24 hours a day, I'd love to see it. But inventing crazy conspiracy theories simply because you prefer a different gaming console is the lowest form of expressing your opinion.

Look at it this way. Cell phones are always on (as most people don't turn them off), they are always connected to a network, and they are designed to transmit what you say. So, are you afraid of you cell phone too? Would you accuse Sprint, AT&T, etc. of spying on you? Or, are your negative feelings about Kinect simply because it's made by a company that competes with the maker of your favorite console?

When you put on the tinfoil hat, you're associating yourself with a lot of crazy people. You're no better than people who think the world is flat, that the moon landings were staged in Hollywood, or that the Holocaust never happened.

Not to mention, you're giving Microsoft WAY too much credit. I have always been an Xbox fan, and even I don't believe that MS could create, and make work on a large scale, the technology required to spy on, and collect information from, tens of millions of people. All for $399 (or so). If that kind of advanced technology was so cheap to mass produce, the CIA would probably buy millions of them to use the technology spy on terrorists and other enemies.

If you really want to believe in the "Kinect will spy on you" conspiracy theory, go right ahead. Enjoy your delusions and say "Hi" to Elvis for me.

[DragonKnight]

Really? The very real fact that Kinect 2 is mandatory, must be always connected and turned on, and is always listening (all of these requirements were stated by MS execs like Phil Harrison) isn't enough for you? Maybe you should take off those green goggles before telling anyone to "Take Off The Tinfoil Hats."

[CyberCam]

Well SMGP, you can go right ahead and put one of those things in your home, that's your choice.

I would rather be labelled as "paranoid conspiracy theorists" and keep my privacy, than to be dumb enough to open up my home to some corporation that thinks of profit first.

I and ALL my friends are staying as far away from that thing as possible! On Saturday we were in a 30 person chat on my Teamspeak server, and not one person in the group wants an XBone.

Good luck with that and don't forget to smile for the camera!

[HammadTheBeast]

DragonKnight just destroyed him.

Checkmate.

[Donnieboi]

Also the fact that Microsoft got caught SPYING on people's Skype conversations says alot about this mandatory Kinect and Mic-being-always-on feature.

[harkki86]

Ok but microsoft has ALREADY gotten in trouble for violating privacy several times in the past. They have even gotten in trouble for spying on skype conversations and guess what? the new xbox one uses skype for communication.

you would have to be pretty naive to brush that aside. or at least, you have to admit that these "delusional" people as you put who are worried about it that you are wrong when you say "there's absolutely no evidence to back up these theories".

[ShabbaRanks]

yup you pretty much nailed it lol

[harkki86]

why the disagrees?

i mean if some pervert gropes me on a city bus and then later asks me out on a date and promises to be a 'perfect gentleman', i would have to be a complete idiot to go along with it.

that is what is going on here. users of microsoft products have been 'groped' in the past on several occasions and yet here they are trying to tell us that microsoft will be a perfect gentleman when it comes to respecting our privacy

[HammadTheBeast]

Don't get on Japanese trains.

Or the Xbox One "hype" train.

[BitbyDeath]

Good example of why you should do your research before posting a blog.

[GotEnder]

Xbox one will not be listening to my family and I because i will not be buying one. which is a shame because ive always liked the crackdown series.

[SilentNegotiator]

They have all they need in the ToS already, Kinect cannot be disconnected to play, and it listens when the system is turned off.

All that and the selling of personal info by corporations is very big business right now and you've got probable cause for concern.

[Fairchild Channel F]

Microsoft has filed this patent:

http://www.vg247.com/2013/0...

Now I'm not claiming it will be implemented but it clearly shows where their thinking lies. Kinect will be constantly on and be keeping track of who's in the room and how many.

There is no other reason for this patent to exist other than to nickel and dime the consumer at every opportunity.

But you go ahead and label me a "tinfoil hat" conspiracy cook if it makes you feel better. Your the one it will end up affecting not I.

[cyguration]

MCVUK has received confirmation from several sources saying that the patent has been applied and implemented into Kinect 2.0, also known as Masturbator Watcher 5000.

[AtomicGerbil]

At this point I think it's far more serious than tin foil hattery, governments are starting to get involved.

[coolbeans]

"tin foil hattery"

Has a nice ring to it. :P

Like others have stated already, anyone worried about spying from a camera with a mandatory hook-up to play on X1 shouldn't be grouped with the black helicopter crowd. In fact, I'd consider it more strange if the majority didn't fret over this subject, especially since MS has done some shady stuff regarding privacy in the past.

[EffectO]

I wonder if those people own smartphones,laptops,ipads,etc or a active on some shitty thing called facebook were people willingly share their personal details with millions around the world.

[SilentNegotiator]

None of which listen to you 24hr/day.

Thanks for playing. Try again.

[joeorc]

Busted: Microsoft intercepts, decrypts, and reads your Skype messages

Think your Skype messages get end-to-end encryption? Think again
Ars catches Microsoft accessing links we sent in our test messages.

http://arstechnica.com/secu...

do not think this is true...well than stay blind

http://techrights.org/2012/...

[pixelsword]

Tinfoil haberdashery, eh?

This has got to be one of the dumbest things I've read on here in a long time, if ever.

If it can tell how many people is in the room and listen to your conversations it's surveillance.

Surveillance (pron.: /sərˈveɪ.əns/ or /sərˈveɪləns/)[1] is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people for the purpose of influencing, managing, directing, or protecting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

Get your facts straight. I'm quite fed-up with people this ignorant; bad enough Fox News exists, I didn't know people would be like this for free.

For all of the arguments I've had on here, I've never told anyone that I disrespected them, but if you're willing to think that a corporation has your best interest at hand or that a corporation doesn't put out products with an ulterior purpose (like Monsanto, for instance) then you sir, disgust me. Your degree of ignorance is laughable to the point of disdain. I am incapable of feeling pity for someone being ignorant, willingly so at that.

[Automatic79]

You guys want references then here are a few.

Xbox One the most wished for product at retailer

http://news.punchjump.com/2...

Xbox One at E3 all about Games, Games, Games

http://www.examiner.com/art...

http://www.gamesindustry.bi...

http://www.gamertagradio.co...

Here are the real references we should be concerned with not conspiracy theories.

[DragonKnight]

First link was removed. Gee, I wonder why.

They can say it'll be all about games games games all they want to but it won't remove their used games DRM or their surveillance initiatives. There's still their E3 history to consider as well, meaning expect a lot of Kinect games.

[Zodiac]

Ever since the patriot act in the US the civilian sheep who bash the conspiracy theorists are the stupid ones.

Anyway,Microsoft has already been busted for listening in and recording our Skype chats, now they have a console with a mandatory camera attached to it that is always on and always connected to the internet. They have already been attacked by agencies from other countries. Why does it have to always be on?

[Ingram]

"A cam and mic in every home, phone, tablet or laptop; and they will happily pay for it since it comes bundled with a shiny toy!" is what the bad guys are thinking.

If you don't see this, you're either too young, too old or too dumb, (that is, 65% of populus)