Posted on 08/23/2019 6:42:40 AM PDT by Enlightened1
Multiple contractors working for Microsoft explain how they listened to audio captured by Xbox consoles.
Contractors working for Microsoft have listened to audio of Xbox users speaking in their homes in order to improve the console’s voice command features, Motherboard has learned. The audio was supposed to be captured following a voice command like “Xbox” or “Hey Cortana,” but contractors said that recordings were sometimes triggered and recorded by mistake.
The news is the latest in a string of revelations that show contractors working on behalf of Microsoft listen to audio captured by several of its products. Motherboard previously reported that human contractors were listening to some Skype calls as well as audio recorded by Cortana, Microsoft’s Siri-like virtual assistant.
The former contractor said they worked on Xbox audio data from 2014 to 2015, before Cortana was implemented into the console in 2016. When it launched in November 2013, the Xbox One had the capability to be controlled via voice commands with the Kinect system.
Do you work as a contractor or employee for a tech giant? Did you used to? We'd love to hear from you. You can contact Joseph Cox securely on Signal on +44 20 8133 5190, Wickr on josephcox, OTR chat on jfcox@jabber.ccc.de, or email joseph.cox@vice.com.
Straight away, some users and commentators were concerned with the idea of Kinect listening to Xbox users, waiting for commands such as "Xbox on." Microsoft said in a statement at the time "Kinect...
(Excerpt) Read more at vice.com ...
In America, television watches you.
Will catch a lot of people cursing at Fallout 76....
Super Nintendo, classic NES and Atari 2600 forever!
Clue, set in the 1950s:
“J. Edgar Hoover is on your phone?”
“Why shouldn’t he be? He’s on everyone else’s.”
The 1960s ...
“Can’t talk now, you don’t know who might be listening.”
The 1970s and 80s ...
“Did you hear how they caught the boss?”
The 1990s ...
“I’m starting to worry about privacy.”
The Noughtys...
“Meh, encryption is too much trouble.”
The Teens ...
“Hey espionage device, when is the movie showing at Cinemark?”
High five.
And y’all thought things were bad with computers, when I was playing ‘red storm rising’, on my Tandy 1000!!
And y’all thought things were bad with computers, when I was playing ‘red storm rising’, on my Tandy 1000!!
And y’all thought things were bad with computers, when I was playing ‘red storm rising’, on my Tandy 1000!!
And y’all thought things were bad with computers, when I was playing ‘red storm rising’, on my Tandy 1000!!
Put your Xbox next to your TV, turn on Univsion, and crank the volume to 11. Problem solved.
“MOM! HOT POCKETS!”
Marathon runs of OTR crime shows.
Mentioned also in a cheesy 70s Sci Fi movie about an opposite earth that looked just like 70s America.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.