Commissioner for Germany's Federal Data Protection Peter Schaar has labeled Microsoft's Xbox One console a monitoring device according to publication Spiegel Online.
"The Xbox continuously records all sorts of personal information about me. Reaction rates, my learning or emotional states. Then are than processed on an external server, and possibly passed on to third parties. Whether they will ever deleted, the person can not influence"
Microsoft's revealed last week that Kinect 2 will come standard with its next-gen Xbox One and won't operate without the peripheral. Kinect 2 features an always on microphone and camera that can be used for functions outside of gaming including changing channels if the Xbox One is connected to a cable or satellite box along with powering on/off the device.
This along with a 2011 patent discovered last year by Extreme Tech has created potential privacy fears for the Xbox One.
The report says that Microsoft mentioned a camera-based system that would monitor the number of viewers in a room watching a film or TV show and check to see if the number of viewers in a room exceed a certain threshold set by the content provider. A prompt to purchase a license will appear if it detects that the number has exceed that threshold.
Rumors the technology would be implemented on Xbox One led Microsoft to issue a statement that neither confirmed nor denied allegations.
"Microsoft regularly applies for and receives patent as part of its business practice; not all patents applied for or received will be incorporated into a Microsoft product," the statement read.
According to reports, the Kinect 2 will only listen for specific cues like saying "Xbox" before a command. As of press time, Microsoft has yet to comment on the Germany government's claims.
Expect Microsoft to speak more on the Xbox One at next month's E3 in Los Angeles.
