So the big news in the world of gaming as of late has been the Xbox One; Microsoft decided to finally answer questions and address concerns that many have had, including how the Kinect keep tabs on its users, and the privacy concerns that naturally has arisen.
Meanwhile, in the real world, the big news is the just discovered PRSIM, which is a joint covert collaboration between the NSA, FBI, and pretty much every tech company out there today. Including Microsoft, who willingly handed over sensitive, user info, including emails, chats, video, photos, and other bits of stored data to the Federal Government.
People are already less than thrilled with the idea of a system that when "turned off" is still listening to what you say, though only to hear the prompt to turn it back. Or so we are told. But the news that MS not only been handing over everyone's personal data since 2007, but was first in line to do so, is simply outrageous to many.
Though in Microsoft's defense, they are certainly not the only party involved. As noted, pretty much every major tech company is also involved, supposedly. Including Google, Yahoo, Skype, AOL, and Apple.
At any rate, due to these latest concerns, Kotaku decided to ask MS straight up what they had to say for themselves, at least as it pertains to the Xbox One:
"We provide customer data only when we receive a legally binding order or subpoena to do so, and never on a voluntary basis. In addition we only ever comply with orders for requests about specific accounts or identifiers. If the government has a broader voluntary national security program to gather customer data we don’t participate in it.”
Basically, MS denies any involvement in PRISM. Though Kotaku also notes, how one interprets the statement is entirely contingent upon how one defines the word voluntary. Also, it's not like everyone else involved has come out and admitted to being participants as well.
Still, even though it does not directly involve their new console, this is yet another black mark against the Xbox One. It's going to take a miracle for everyone to forget about all the bad stuff come next week. But as they say, miracles do happen.
