Xbox One News: Before Release Date Microsoft's Privacy Statement Updated Concerning Kinect, User Data

One of the XBox One's most controversial features is the ability of the Xbox Kinect to listen in on and record user conversations, and store that data as a means to study user habits. To calm any Big Brother anxieties, Microsoft recently updated its privacy statement, promising to keep user facial recognition data private. However, the company noted that any conversations picked up by the Kinect microphone will have far less security.

Microsoft stated that the company will create a user's facial recognition data for logging in by turning aspects of their face into numerical data that cannot be recognized by others. This information will not leave the console. For games using the Kinect, the stick figure made by the distance between a player's joints will be stored as temporary memory and will be deleted once a player turns off the console. Similarly, some games will use facial recognition data to influence gameplay, which will be deleted when the console is shut down.

Microsoft also clarified that players have some control over what information and data gets shared with Microsoft. For example, voice commands and photos can be kept private or released to Microsoft depending on user choice.

Microsoft made its position clear on sharing any conversations the console picks up: everything's fair game. 

"[Users] should not expect any level of privacy concerning your use of the live communication features such as voice chat, video and communications in live-hosted gameplay sessions offered through the Services," wrote Microsoft. 

In addition, Microsoft stated that they can listen in on the players "to the extent permitted by law, but we cannot monitor the entire Service and make no attempt to do so."

As for footage recorded for the GameDVR, Microsoft reminds players that "any player in that session can use GameDVR to record their view of the gameplay taking place in that session." This means a user's gamertag and in-game character may be shared publicly, but audio from the footage will not be shared.

Finally, players will not need to worry about their Skype video calls being monitored by Microsoft; the company won't record those conversations. Players can also delete any data recorded by the Kinect by using the reset option in the menu option for the Kinect.