Is it possible for the NSA to Spy through the Xbox Kinect ?
Okay here's a new theory. Would it be possible for the NSA to Spy through the Xbox Kinect ? So not unlike Kinect, Skype had assured its users that "wiretaps were technically impossible" the company explained in 2008. And four years later, when hackers accused Skype owner Microsoft of changing the service's backend to facilitate government eavesdropping, the company categorically denied the accusations. Now, it seems like the company could have been lying, or at least had quietly changed its mind.
Mind you, Microsoft is also denying last Thursday's Guardian report, but the denial is a lot less clear-cut. The company disavows having providing "blanket or direct access" to Skype, but doesn't deny that it provides Skype video or audio to the government upon request. So even if we(consumers) take Microsoft's word that the Kinect doesn't currently upload private conversations to remote servers, can anyone trust that Microsoft won't change that in a future software update?
The Verge on this: You close a laptop when you're not using it. Your phone faces the inside of a pocket, a purse, or lies flat on a table. But the Microsoft Kinect, an always-on camera that will come with every new Xbox One game console, gets a perfect view of your living room. It's always listening for voice commands, even when you turn the Xbox off. It can even read your heartbeat with the right software.
Microsoft says it doesn't plan to abuse that power, and claims it couldn't even if it tried. The company told us that the Kinect's cameras and microphones aren't actually recording or transmitting any audio or video data back to Microsoft's servers without the user's explicit consent, and all ambiently collected data is anonymized. While some voice commands are processed at Microsoft's servers, they're converted to text before they ever leave the machine, and biometric data is translated into numerical values that simply indicate, say, where a player's limbs are during online multiplayer games.
Senior Member
Posts: 2942
Joined: 2008-11-29
It's not so much about that, but really, what can we do to change that?
As far as I know, ever since this whole NSA ordeal was exposed, all people have done is bitch and moan about it on the internet.
How is doing that going to change anything? some guy is going to make an online petition to outlaw it? hahaha
Unless you can get a large enough group to overthrow american government and all of its agencies, put new people in charge of everything and
Make sure to get rid of such program, It will always exist and there's not a damn thing me, or you can do about it.
But of course such thing will never happen, so I will go on with my life. I don't want to be butthurt forever over something I can't do anything about. if you do, that's your choice.
It's a sad day when an Irishman is not willing to stand up for freedom. Stop drinking that fluoride (hydrofluosilicic acid). I suggest you look at where that comes from.
Senior Member
Posts: 4407
Joined: 2008-08-22
I'm not Irish

Secondly, come on. do you really see a revolution happening that would get rid of such a program 100%?
And I say revolution, because that's the only way. sure they could pass a law that says its fobidden and praise it
around the media that such thing no longer happens. when in reality, if programs like this exist, there will always be that
One secret project (like this one) where such a thing occurs. except maybe this time around, it will stay secret.
Senior Member
Posts: 2942
Joined: 2008-11-29
I'm not Irish

Secondly, come on. do you really see a revolution happening that would get rid of such a program 100%?
And I say revolution, because that's the only way. sure they could pass a law that says its fobidden and praise it
around the media that such thing no longer happens. when in reality, if programs like this exist, there will always be that
One secret project (like this one) where such a thing occurs. except maybe this time around, it will stay secret.
All we need non violence, non participation. They loose their power in an instant.
Senior Member
Posts: 4407
Joined: 2008-08-22
non participation?

Senior Member
Posts: 4407
Joined: 2008-08-22
It's not so much about that, but really, what can we do to change that?
As far as I know, ever since this whole NSA ordeal was exposed, all people have done is bitch and moan about it on the internet.
How is doing that going to change anything? some guy is going to make an online petition to outlaw it? hahaha
Unless you can get a large enough group to overthrow american government and all of its agencies, put new people in charge of everything and
Make sure to get rid of such program, It will always exist and there's not a damn thing me, or you can do about it.
But of course such thing will never happen, so I will go on with my life. I don't want to be butthurt forever over something I can't do anything about. if you do, that's your choice.