German Official Expresses Xbox One Privacy Concerns

[The White Hunter]

OT: Totally called the Germans being displeased. That said the thing doesn't have any features outside of the US, so nobody will buy it anyway. As for the privacy issues, thats part of why i wont be buying it.

Germany is more of a Playstation country anyway. Aren't that many people who even have XBoxes (or non-banned ones for that matter).

I knew this was going to happen sooner or later, I just didn't expect it to come BEFORE release. Let's see how soon this gets fought over in court.

I've got 2 things to say about the "MS is a big company, they've got nigh-endless funds and can't be beat in court" argument:
A) German law is an incredibly complicated jungle. MS being a US-based company, they'll also find the many laws protecting privacy to be an obstacle in this case (privacy is a basic human right pretected by the german constitution).
B) MS has already been beat in European courts. On top of that, some parts of the EU's government are onto devices with an "expiration date", so MS'll have to fight that, too.

EDIT:fixed the typos.

Oskuro: it isn't ironical, really. German politics as they are now have the sole orientation to be as little like the ones from during and before WWII, because of which we have this orientation.

From what I understand Europe in general is a PlayStation kind of place, and the 360 is only more popular in the UK because of.. i don't really know actually... the steady downfall of any kind of structured and intellectual society? I mean I live in a place where people think Queen copied Justin Beiber so I'll just say it's because everyone is a fucking moron.

I'm also well aware of those things, or were those not directed at me? Microsoft still has sizable fees to be paying for it's browser monopoly bullshit.

 

[Lightknight]

This is why I'll strongly recommend Xbone users spend a significant amount of time doing ridiculously gross things in front of the console. I want whoever is on the end to feel as uncomfortable about watching us as we feel about them watching us.

 

[Roxas1359]

snip

Well perhaps MS's CEO is secretly a Frost Giant. I mean you never know, or perhaps they have the Jörmungandr locked in their basements and the Xbone's Kinect will release the monster into the homes of many.
Also, if I ever heard people say that Queen copied Bieber I would slap them upside the head no matter what their age was (okay I wouldn't slap little kids, but you get my point)! That's just...just dirty and disrespects Queen!

 

[omega 616]

If for some reason I end up with one of these, I would just cover it ... like cover the front in tape, put a teeny box over it, make it face the ground, wrap a towel round it ... something!

Just feel awkward having this eye watching you, even PS eye or webcam I turn it to face a wall, unplug it or something just to not have this all seeing eye looking at me ... I feel like I'm Truman on that show of his.

 

[Matthi205]

OT: Totally called the Germans being displeased. That said the thing doesn't have any features outside of the US, so nobody will buy it anyway. As for the privacy issues, thats part of why i wont be buying it.

Germany is more of a Playstation country anyway. Aren't that many people who even have XBoxes (or non-banned ones for that matter).

I knew this was going to happen sooner or later, I just didn't expect it to come BEFORE release. Let's see how soon this gets fought over in court.

I've got 2 things to say about the "MS is a big company, they've got nigh-endless funds and can't be beat in court" argument:
A) German law is an incredibly complicated jungle. MS being a US-based company, they'll also find the many laws protecting privacy to be an obstacle in this case (privacy is a basic human right pretected by the german constitution).
B) MS has already been beat in European courts. On top of that, some parts of the EU's government are onto devices with an "expiration date", so MS'll have to fight that, too.

EDIT:fixed the typos.

Oskuro: it isn't ironical, really. German politics as they are now have the sole orientation to be as little like the ones from during and before WWII, because of which we have this orientation.

From what I understand Europe in general is a PlayStation kind of place, and the 360 is only more popular in the UK because of.. i don't really know actually... the steady downfall of any kind of structured and intellectual society? I mean I live in a place where people think Queen copied Justin Beiber so I'll just say it's because everyone is a fucking moron.

I'm also well aware of those things, or were those not directed at me? Microsoft still has sizable fees to be paying for it's browser monopoly bullshit.

OK, that thing with Queen an Justin Bieber is starting to make me lose faith in humanity.

They weren't directed at you, they were there just to provide perspective to others.
I thought that the Browser Monopoly thing was over years ago? Figures.

[OT]Why does Windows still get bundled with IE? That browser is nowhere near being easy or convenient to use, and is the single most security-issue ridden thing on the entire PC, leaving behind Windows itself in some cases. I've used nearly every single browser in existence[footnote]IE6,7,8,9,10; Iceweasel/Firefox/Seamonkey; Safari in all of its versions; Chrome; Opera 6-12; Netscape Navigator; Links; lynx; OffByOne[/footnote] and can safely say that IE is the worst of them all.[/OT]

 

[Quiet Stranger]

Keep the posts coming you guys, you're all keeping me from falling asleep in class (hell I am so bored!!)

After all I've seen, heard, and read up on about the Xbox One, I am now a Sony man all the way. I loved the Xbox and quite enjoyed my Xbox 360 for the years that I had it (still have it but never touch it anymore) but now all I play is my PS3 and after all this, I will be getting a PS4.

Also not that I quoted the person but if I ever heard someone say Queen copied "He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Name" I would gladly punch them in the nose.

 

[The White Hunter]

OT: Totally called the Germans being displeased. That said the thing doesn't have any features outside of the US, so nobody will buy it anyway. As for the privacy issues, thats part of why i wont be buying it.

Germany is more of a Playstation country anyway. Aren't that many people who even have XBoxes (or non-banned ones for that matter).

I knew this was going to happen sooner or later, I just didn't expect it to come BEFORE release. Let's see how soon this gets fought over in court.

I've got 2 things to say about the "MS is a big company, they've got nigh-endless funds and can't be beat in court" argument:
A) German law is an incredibly complicated jungle. MS being a US-based company, they'll also find the many laws protecting privacy to be an obstacle in this case (privacy is a basic human right pretected by the german constitution).
B) MS has already been beat in European courts. On top of that, some parts of the EU's government are onto devices with an "expiration date", so MS'll have to fight that, too.

EDIT:fixed the typos.

Oskuro: it isn't ironical, really. German politics as they are now have the sole orientation to be as little like the ones from during and before WWII, because of which we have this orientation.

From what I understand Europe in general is a PlayStation kind of place, and the 360 is only more popular in the UK because of.. i don't really know actually... the steady downfall of any kind of structured and intellectual society? I mean I live in a place where people think Queen copied Justin Beiber so I'll just say it's because everyone is a fucking moron.

I'm also well aware of those things, or were those not directed at me? Microsoft still has sizable fees to be paying for it's browser monopoly bullshit.

OK, that thing with Queen an Justin Bieber is starting to make me lose faith in humanity.

They weren't directed at you, they were there just to provide perspective to others.
I thought that the Browser Monopoly thing was over years ago? Figures.

[OT]Why does Windows still get bundled with IE? That browser is nowhere near being easy or convenient to use, and is the single most security-issue ridden thing on the entire PC, leaving behind Windows itself in some cases. I've used nearly every single browser in existence[footnote]IE6,7,8,9,10; Iceweasel/Firefox/Seamonkey; Safari in all of its versions; Chrome; Opera 6-12; Netscape Navigator; Links; lynx; OffByOne[/footnote] and can safely say that IE is the worst of them all.[/OT]

Well they got a huge fine over it, paid it, and were told they had to put in a screen on first boot of any PC asking you to pick a broswer with at least IE, Firefox, Chrome, Opera and Safari. I've seen the screen that should be there, but I've never seen it in real life though. As a result of not doing this, they were fined again last year over it.

 

[The White Hunter]

snip

Well perhaps MS's CEO is secretly a Frost Giant. I mean you never know, or perhaps they have the Jörmungandr locked in their basements and the Xbone's Kinect will release the monster into the homes of many.
Also, if I ever heard people say that Queen copied Bieber I would slap them upside the head no matter what their age was (okay I wouldn't slap little kids, but you get my point)! That's just...just dirty and disrespects Queen!

Well if Microsoft has frost giants we could be staring down the start of Ragnarok here... could be interesting... would definately necessitate Mjolnir though, perhaps even Gugnhir (spelling may be wrong).

Yeah if I ever see it in real life, I will likely punch the culprit square between the eyes.
Nobody disrespects Freddy and gets away with it >_O

Also for some reason I was not notified you'd quoted me.

 

[The White Hunter]

Keep the posts coming you guys, you're all keeping me from falling asleep in class (hell I am so bored!!)

After all I've seen, heard, and read up on about the Xbox One, I am now a Sony man all the way. I loved the Xbox and quite enjoyed my Xbox 360 for the years that I had it (still have it but never touch it anymore) but now all I play is my PS3 and after all this, I will be getting a PS4.

Also not that I quoted the person but if I ever heard someone say Queen copied "He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Name" I would gladly punch them in the nose.

That would be me, see my above post. I really think we might need some kind of purge to get rid of some of the stupid people on this planet.

 

[Quiet Stranger]

Keep the posts coming you guys, you're all keeping me from falling asleep in class (hell I am so bored!!)

After all I've seen, heard, and read up on about the Xbox One, I am now a Sony man all the way. I loved the Xbox and quite enjoyed my Xbox 360 for the years that I had it (still have it but never touch it anymore) but now all I play is my PS3 and after all this, I will be getting a PS4.

Also not that I quoted the person but if I ever heard someone say Queen copied "He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Name" I would gladly punch them in the nose.

That would be me, see my above post. I really think we might need some kind of purge to get rid of some of the stupid people on this planet.

I agree, shall we meet over milk and cookies and discuss a plan on how to enact the purging?

 

[The White Hunter]

Keep the posts coming you guys, you're all keeping me from falling asleep in class (hell I am so bored!!)

After all I've seen, heard, and read up on about the Xbox One, I am now a Sony man all the way. I loved the Xbox and quite enjoyed my Xbox 360 for the years that I had it (still have it but never touch it anymore) but now all I play is my PS3 and after all this, I will be getting a PS4.

Also not that I quoted the person but if I ever heard someone say Queen copied "He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Name" I would gladly punch them in the nose.

That would be me, see my above post. I really think we might need some kind of purge to get rid of some of the stupid people on this planet.

I agree, shall we meet over milk and cookies and discuss a plan on how to enact the purging?

Make it whisky and cigars and you have a deal. I propose initially removing the warning labels from everything and removing signs that state the obvious such as "do not walk on the train tracks", the next step is to stop offering medical help to people who come in having drunk bleach, shoved a lightbulb up their arse, etc...

It's much more insidious than just killing them all you see.

 

[Traun255]

"We know our customers..." HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[iniudan]

snip

snip

Silly fools, why use those when you can use this!

Albeit you need a Norse god or an alien to wield it, but once that sucker is off, it is off for good!

OT: The EU really should just install a revolving door when it comes to MS because they always make these global decisions and somehow forget that Europe exists.

Use the model that include electricity at least.

 

[Matthi205]

That would be me, see my above post. I really think we might need some kind of purge to get rid of some of the stupid people on this planet.

I agree, shall we meet over milk and cookies and discuss a plan on how to enact the purging?

Make it whisky and cigars and you have a deal. I propose initially removing the warning labels from everything and removing signs that state the obvious such as "do not walk on the train tracks", the next step is to stop offering medical help to people who come in having drunk bleach, shoved a lightbulb up their arse, etc...

It's much more insidious than just killing them all you see.

I take it we're meeting in that volcano research complex of yours? If that is indeed the case, please tell your steward to prepare a Teh Tarik for me.

I don't know... insidious, yes. But what about those who have some kind of self preservation instinct? Could we not make some kind of T-Virus that only infects people who are retarded and then mass hypnotise everybody who's left to shoot anything that looks retarded and half dead? (We might lose some of the politicians that still have a working brain, but those are an acceptable casualty)

[footnote]Yes we're totally off topic now.[/footnote]

 

[The White Hunter]

That would be me, see my above post. I really think we might need some kind of purge to get rid of some of the stupid people on this planet.

I agree, shall we meet over milk and cookies and discuss a plan on how to enact the purging?

Make it whisky and cigars and you have a deal. I propose initially removing the warning labels from everything and removing signs that state the obvious such as "do not walk on the train tracks", the next step is to stop offering medical help to people who come in having drunk bleach, shoved a lightbulb up their arse, etc...

It's much more insidious than just killing them all you see.

I take it we're meeting in that volcano research complex of yours? If that is indeed the case, please tell your steward to prepare a Teh Tarik for me.

I don't know... insidious, yes. But what about those who have some kind of self preservation instinct? Could we not make some kind of T-Virus that only infects people who are retarded and then mass hypnotise everybody who's left to shoot anything that looks retarded and half dead? (We might lose some of the politicians that still have a working brain, but those are an acceptable casualty)

[footnote]Yes we're totally off topic now.[footnote]

We're meeting in the undersea bunker actually, though there are nearby volacnoes, I find it's easier to have the natural defence of crushing pressure and giant squid than to pay human guards on land.

Ah but you see, I only laid out phase one. Once we've purged the truly unsalvagable waste from the planet we can start working on a way to clean-up the rest and improve the intellect of the general population through eugenics and SCIENCE!

As for the politicians we need to get rid of them anyway then use their collective salaries to fund space fortress.

 

[rob_simple]

Why the hell is Microsoft so vague about everything? Haven?t they realized that that?s the stupidest thing to do.

If they knew that people weren?t going to like their decisions then why didn?t they simply not make those decisions.

I know people have already answered you about Microsoft being generally stupid and a mess, but I have a different theory.

I suspect that Microsoft know exactly what they are doing and --much like how modern developers like to release broken games and let the public do some free bug-testing for them-- Microsoft are being deliberately non-committal about the specifics of their new console so they can dismiss the plans they had that don't test well with their worldwide focus group as 'baseless rumours,' while keeping in whatever people seem willing to tolerate.

It also gives them the option of pretending they're actually listening to what the consumer wants; giving the illusion of choice while still holding on to absolutely all of the power.

 

[raankh]

Double irony: Videogame companies are the ones imposing Orwellian surveillance mechanism, and it's Germany's government who is rushing to stop them.

George Orwell must be scratching his head in his tomb.

Whoever the actors are, I think he would be disappointed seeing so much of his story turn into prediction.

Said "videogame" company, however, isn't quite the usual staunch protector of liberties to serve as a contrast. Let's not forget the message is that Microsoft wants to put surveillance equipment in your living room. That's not really a shocker.

 

[idarkphoenixi]

They say you can turn it off but if that's true why don't you have the option to not buy the damn thing at all? And why does it require to be connected for the console to work?

 

[Colt47]

Why is it that the United States still can't get it's thick skull around privacy protection?

 

[Lobsterofsteel]

Here a translation of the original article, for anyone who is still interested. Sorry for grammar or spelling mistakes, it's quite late in germany

Microsoft?s new gaming console is a concern to Germanys leading data privacy activist. The Xbox ONE is a ?surveillance tool? said Peter Schaar to SPIEGEL. Users cannot control, what information about them will be stored.

Berlin ? The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection Peter Schaar criticized the recently by Microsoft announced Xbox One. ?Under the term ?toy?, Microsoft pushes a surveillance tool into the market?, told Schaar to the SPIEGEL. ?The Xbox permanently registers all kinds of personal Information about me. Reaction times, my ability to learn or my emotional state. This data is then processed on an external server and will even maybe be given to Third Parties. The person in question can never know, if that information will ever be deleted.?
The gaming console is equipped with a camera system that can capture spatial information and also the faces of the users. Microsoft plans to extensively integrate the console in the entertainment-equipement of their users ? all devices, from TV-receivers to amps ? are supposed to be controllable by voice and gesture control. The company will also use the device as a tool for market research: the Xbox One, as Microsoft manager Phil Spencer says, will make sure that ?we know, what people are engaged in. We can make them vote and integrate their vote into the creative process?.
A patent application hints at Microsoft plan to also use the console in other ways ? for example to use the kinect camera to calculate prices for movie download by the number of people in front of the TV. Microsoft did not comment on the patent application as of yet.
The data privacy activist Peter Schaar is not afraid that Microsoft will use the microphone in the console camera to eavesdrop on conversations:? Microsoft spying my living room is just a twisted horror vision.? Some media pointed out that the gaming console can be activated by voice control. That means that the microphone has to be turned on, even if the console is in standby-mode.
The Xbox One was introduced last Tuesday in Redmond as is supposed to hit the shelves for Christmas sales.


EDIT: aaaaaaand I saw after posting that the translated article was already posted in this thread. So this will maybe not be very usefull