Microsoft released an update to its privacy statement that details exactly how its updated Kinect motion capture system will work on the upcoming next-generation console the Xbox One.
The Kinect will use any data that it collects during play. Xbox One owners are advised details about your appearance gleaned from Kinect's facial recognition technology will be totally private, but they are also reminded not to expect any level of privacy while chatting with others via the service. In other words, be mindful of the fact that you now have a Kinect in your living room, dorm room or bedroom.
According to the post, which can be found HERE, in order to use the camera to sign you in, Kinect "measures the distances between key points on your face to create a numeric value that represents only you." This information will stay on your console and will not be shared. The value itself is stored as a "very long set of numbers" and, according to Microsoft, "no one could look at the numbers and know they represent you."
As for gameplay, according to IGN, Kinect will map the distance between your body's joints to create a stick figure. The numeric values of your stick figure will be temporarily stored in the Kinect's memory on your console but will be destroyed when you quit the session.
If you're online "Microsoft may collect those numeric values to enable and improve game play and improve the gaming experience." The company makes a special note that people will not be able to be identified by your stick figure's representation.
If you want to play a game that allows you to use facial recognition to influence the game, that data will be stored only for as long as your game session is going on.
As for voice chat, users need to bare in mind that they should not expect any level of privacy when it comes to the use of your live communications. This includes voice and video chat. Microsoft says it may monitor communications to the extent that is permitted by law on Xbox Live.
Players can also decide to record your point of view when playing on Xbox Live. The company reiterated at the bottom of its note that the Kinect can be turned off at any point, rendering all of these privacy features useless.
