GCHQ identified Kinect as possible snooping tool; Microsoft denies all knowledge

The Guardian also reveals that one of GCHQ’s presentations “discusses with interest the potential and capabilities of the Xbox 360's Kinect camera, saying it generated ‘fairly normal webcam traffic’ and was being evaluated as part of a wider program”.

The plans were part of a surveillance program entitled Optic Nerve that worked to capture imagery of internet users via in-built hardware camera tech.

It is not yet known whether GCHQ actually recorded and stored images captured via Kinect

The revelation is a nightmare for Microsoft, which has already had to fight against the security backlash that erupted when it transpired that Xbox One would ship with a new always-on Kinect camera.

GCHQ identified Kinect as possible snooping tool; Microsoft denies all knowledge

So here we go again.
And my question is why would the GCHQ want to capture images of guys sitting on their sofa's, beer balanced on their bellies, clutching their controllers with Dorito stained fingers while playing a mega marathon Halo kill fest?

Okay I admit the Splinter Cell, Gears of War and GTA players can be a tad worrisome but man you really got watch fans of those Lego games!

You bet your butts this is a real nightmare for Microsoft. Every division other than mobile devices is struggling to maintain profitability, but if people start freaking out over being spied on through their game consuls you can kiss the whole Xbox line sayonara baby!

reply to post by HardCorps


Whaaaaaa???

Who would have thought an always-on camera and microphone connected to the internet could be used as a snooping device?

Shocked I tell you. Shocked.

Nobodys going to get rid of their consoles. Most people don't care one bit that they live in a glass house and the whole world can spy on them anytime they want.

thisguyrighthere
reply to post by HardCorps

 

Whaaaaaa???

Who would have thought an always-on camera and microphone connected to the internet could be used as a snooping device?

Shocked I tell you. Shocked.

Nobodys going to get rid of their consoles. Most people don't care one bit that they live in a glass house and the whole world can spy on them anytime they want.

GET OUT OF MY MIND!!!!!!

Either way, yeah.. big surprise on this one...

There will be a small percentage that see the problem and speak with their wallet, but they will be the fringe. And the fringe doesnt really matter unless it can be folded into the profit-producing process.

Yeah I'm with ya on the don't really care end...
I saw on news this morning where the GCHQ admitted that like 95% of the images they did get were unwanted nudes.
Unwanted nudes--- If they don't want to look at em stop snooping on other people, Damn..

reply to post by HardCorps


Yeah, thats a little ironic, no?

"We got pictures we didnt really want when we unconstitutionally "searched" peoples homes"

Its not surprising at all..they are training(dumbing down) all of us..trying to anyway to accept this kind of bullsh%t..Never..screw Xbox, facebook..etc etc.
Cheers

reply to post by Serdgiam


Yeah well to teach them a lesson in manners I think later today I'll stand in front of my Kinect camera and let my dangling participle dangle.

reply to post by HardCorps


Like they didn't see this coming.

Using the Kinect camera was discussed back in 2013 to deliver targeted advertising based on who is in the room with Kinect activated.

Microsoft: Xbox One’s Kinect Can Be Used to Target Ads If Players Want

Microsoft has finally managed to define its position when it comes to advertising on the Xbox One using the Kinect motion tracking system and says that commercial content can be delivered as long as the user specifically opts into a program.

A spokesperson says in an official statement for Eurogamer that, “Will not target ads to you based on any data Kinect collects unless you choose to allow us to do so.”

The company adds, “we will give you a clear explanation of what is collected and how it will be used. Importantly, we do not collect your personal information to share or sell to third parties, and you are fully in control over what personal data is shared.”

If the CIA wants to watch teenage boys jerk it, sleep, play xbox for "intelligence" Purposes, who are we to question.

Im positive all those yahoo hacked cams, and now Xbox, means the NSA servers contain child porn.

So how many laws does the NSA get to break?

Or are we just operating on they are above all laws?

reply to post by HardCorps


Kinect is hackable. It happened to me. For real. I will never buy another xbox. It wasn't the cops or nsa either, it was my idiot exwifes mother. If that woman can do it I am sure anyone can.

reply to post by thisguyrighthere


I wouldn't be so sure about that.



The sales for Xbox1 haven't been so good, whether it be due to price or the weirded out factor as indicated by the above parody vid. A lot of articles written by reviewers expressed a discomfort with the "always on" aspect of Kinect and privacy concerns. In terms of sales, PS4 has nearly doubled its sales over Xbox1 and Microsoft changed their tune on the Kinect always being on in order to play. There's actually custom fitted privacy covers on the market for Kinect, lol. Kind of humorous.

www.destructoid.com...

A lot of gamers did get creeped out by Kinect's biometric sensors/always on issues and it definitely may have had an impact on the console's sales. Or, alternatively, a lot of people weren't down with paying $100 more to get spied on.

I think is not "why" they would do it. Imo, is more to see if they CAN do it. Some sort of test for future plans.
Thats why i never had and will never have webcams or wifi on my house. Yup, im paranoid but is not paranoia if you are being followed right?

When kinect came out, we won a new xbox (my mother does hours of sweepstaking every day, and wins stuff like that all the time). Our first move: take the kinect to gamestop and sell it for instore credit on a new controller.

We have 3 xbox 360's. Only 1 of them really gets played, the other 2 are "netflix boxes" for the most part. I played daily until a year ago, and just stopped for some reason. Ill likely play again, but my son and I are sold on PC gaming being the only "safe" option left. For whatever "safe" means.

HardCorps
So here we go again.
And my question is why would the GCHQ want to capture images of guys sitting on their sofa's, beer balanced on their bellies, clutching their controllers with Dorito stained fingers while playing a mega marathon Halo kill fest?

Because they can.

They don't need a "why". They have the possibility, they have the means, and it enables them to stomp our privacy a little further. They won't say no to more power. The more power the better.

bigfatfurrytexan
We have 3 xbox 360's. Only 1 of them really gets played, the other 2 are "netflix boxes" for the most part. I played daily until a year ago, and just stopped for some reason. Ill likely play again, but my son and I are sold on PC gaming being the only "safe" option left. For whatever "safe" means.

I run my xbox one without the Kinect physically plugged into the box.

Works just fine for non-kinect games, and for netflix.

bigfatfurrytexan
We have 3 xbox 360's. Only 1 of them really gets played, the other 2 are "netflix boxes" for the most part. I played daily until a year ago, and just stopped for some reason. Ill likely play again, but my son and I are sold on PC gaming being the only "safe" option left. For whatever "safe" means.

Be careful with steam. Games which use the Valve Anti Cheat system scan your DNS history.

reply to post by thisguyrighthere


You believe that? Most people would not wanna be spied on. That's some creepy, paranoid crap on Microsoft, and the US governments part.

The Xbox1 was originally gonna come with a camera that had to be on, and the Xbox 1 always had to have an internet connection. That right there made my mind up that I will never buy one. Not even after Microsoft back peddled and changed it because so many fans were like "WTF Microsuck??" Why in the world would a gaming company feel the need to watch it's customers?? Ol' Bill Gates and the other elites had a meeting and came up with this I bet. These creepy lunatics have got to go.

PS4 with no camera or microphone all the way!!! PS4 has better graphics/more power anyway. Microsoft's Xbox will be obsolete in 5 years. That's my prediction.

peck420

bigfatfurrytexan
We have 3 xbox 360's. Only 1 of them really gets played, the other 2 are "netflix boxes" for the most part. I played daily until a year ago, and just stopped for some reason. Ill likely play again, but my son and I are sold on PC gaming being the only "safe" option left. For whatever "safe" means.

I run my xbox one without the Kinect physically plugged into the box.

Works just fine for non-kinect games, and for netflix.

the platform will drive the content. I don't want to support the platform.

Well this news are expected as more and more we learn that in the Police state of America the free we have no privacy per choices.

See, why will anybody purchase an item that they know is spying on them, comm'on, use your brain why will anybody buy something with their money that they truly do not control.

Having an item that you can not control, turn or uninstall certain features that takes away at your privacy is just stupid, new generations are giving themselves freely to the NSA to snoop at will, they don't have to take away liberties people are giving them away in the name of owning the newest technology.

never had all this hassle when monopoly and buckeroo were the in things

class action lawsuit

if enough people revolt and return them as not fit for purpose bill gates and co will be frightened by a mass revolt