Fresh off the news that numerous technology companies provided the United States government with information on individuals, consumers have debated the merits of Microsoft’s new Xbox One console. The gaming console requires that consumers are constantly connected to the Internet in order to enjoy its library of gaming titles.
The console also requires that gamers use a motion-sensing camera accessory called Xbox Kinect in order to use the console. Due to the device’s recording capabilities, a growing number of gaming journalists and online privacy advocates have claimed that the new console could be used as a domestic spying device.
Is the concern a sensible approach to very real privacy risks, or a tinfoil hat theory on Microsoft’s spying policies? Microsoft was one of several large technology firms involved in the United States’ PRISM surveillance network, and consumers are very justified in their concern about the company’s always-on Internet requirements.
On the other hand, Microsoft’s gaming console is unlikely to be used to hold large amounts of personal data due to its purpose. The console has been marketed as a media centre, but is likely to be used primarily for gaming. Spying agencies aren’t likely to be interest in consumer gaming habits, given the value of other data.
Microsoft’s response to the concern has been relatively clumsy, with a spokesman claiming that consumers unable to connect to the Internet while gaming should be using Microsoft’s previous gaming console, the Xbox 360, instead. Microsoft’s main competitor, Sony, has used the opportunity to market its own PlayStation console.
Gaming journalists have honed in on Microsoft’s console in particular, claiming that its always-on requirement limits its audience. The console’s voice commands, which operate using an always-on microphone, have also resulted in a debate about home conveniences – voice-operated technology, in particular – and user privacy.
