AfterDawn: Tech news

Microsoft makes Xbox One Kinect privacy assurances

Written by James Delahunty @ 02 Nov 2013 12:34 User comments (2)

Microsoft makes Xbox One Kinect privacy assurances

A Microsoft document details how Xbox One Kinect users' data is protected under the new system.
Questions had been raised about privacy issues with the new Kinect, which can recognize and automatically sign in different players based on information it stores about them. The system measures distance between facial features and converts it into numerical data.

According to Microsoft, nobody would be able to look at this data and determine that it represents the person in question. Nevertheless, the information stays on the Xbox One console and is not shared with third parties or backed up to Microsoft servers.

Users are also in complete control over photos captured by the Kinect device during use, and can determine the sharing of data with titles like Kinect Fitness which track skeletal data.

An "Expressions" feature lets users control the Xbox One in ways using facial expressions, but this information cannot identify an individual user and is destroyed when a session ends.



The GameDVR feature on Xbox One can capture gameplay. In the case of multiplayer games, GameDVR will not capture audio chat. Footage captured with GameDVR can be set to "Blocked", "Friends Only" or everybody - determining its level of visibility.

Previous Next  

2 user comments

13.11.2013 07:12

"the information stays on the Xbox One console and is not shared with third parties or backed up to Microsoft servers."

hmm I would have figured the NSA would have technically been a Third Party, but guess they are 1st party these days.

23.11.2013 09:43

Till it's hacked and your info is open for anyone to get.

Comments have been disabled for this article.

Latest news

VLC hits milestone: over 5 billion downloads VLC hits milestone: over 5 billion downloads (16 Mar 2024 4:31)
VLC Media Player, the versatile video-software powerhouse, has achieved a remarkable feat: it has been downloaded over 5 billion times.
1 user comment
Sideloading apps to Android gets easier, as Google settles its lawsuit Sideloading apps to Android gets easier, as Google settles its lawsuit (19 Dec 2023 11:09)
Google settled its lawsuit in September 2023, and one of the settlement terms was that the way applications are installed on Android from outside the Google Play Store must become simpler. In the future, installing APK files will be easier.
8 user comments
Roomba Combo j7+ review - Clever trick allows robot vacuum finally to tackle home with rugs and carpets Roomba Combo j7+ review - Clever trick allows robot vacuum finally to tackle home with rugs and carpets (06 Jun 2023 9:19)
Roomba Combo j7+ is the very first Roomba model to combine robot vacuum with mopping features. And Roomba Combo j7+ does all that with a very clever trick, which tackles the problem with mopping and carpets. But is it any good? We found out.
Neato, the robot vacuum company, ends its operations Neato, the robot vacuum company, ends its operations (02 May 2023 3:38)
Neato Robotics has ceased its operations. American robot vacuum pioneer founded in 2005 has finally called it quits and company will cease its operations and sales. Only a skeleton crew will remain who will keep the servers running until 2028.
5 user comments
How to Send Messages to Yourself on WhatsApp How to Send Messages to Yourself on WhatsApp (20 Mar 2023 1:25)
The world's most popular messaging platform, Meta-owned WhatsApp has enabled sending messages to yourself. While at first, this might seem like an odd feature, it can be very useful in a lot of situations. ....
18 user comments

News archive