Microsoft contractors listened to Xbox-recorded audio – report

4.3
Some contractors working on behalf of Microsoft have reportedly reviewed voice recordings made on Xbox.

According to a new Motherboard report, Microsoft hired contractors to listen to audio recorded by Xbox consoles in an effort to improve voice command recognition.

Phrases like “Xbox On” and later “Hey Cortana” would trigger these recordings, as most already know. Some of them, according to the report, were triggered accidentally and were not meant as voice commands. This practice existed during the Kinect’s life, and continued when Cortana replaced it on Xbox One.

Some of these cases, a contractor told Motherboard, were triggered by players telling Cortana “No” following accidental triggers. Cortana will soon be removed from Xbox One, taking away her ability to recognise voice commands issued directly to the console.

Those who anonymously spoke to the site said the feature improved over time as a result of their work. Interestingly, contractors were not allowed to say what their job was, or mention it was for Microsoft.

Microsoft has since told Motherboard that it no longer listens to Xbox-recorded audio to improve its voice features. “We’ve long been clear that we collect voice data to improve voice-enabled services and that this data is sometimes reviewed by vendors,” the company added in a statement.

Microsoft updated its privacy policy this month in response to a different report, clarifying that, in some cases, user recordings will be reviewed by humans.



Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: https://www.vg247.com/2019/08/22/microsoft-contractors-listened-to-xbox-audio-recordings-report/

Comments

"Microsoft contractors listened to Xbox-recorded audio – report" :: Login/Create an Account :: 8 comments

If you would like to post a comment please signin to your account or register for an account.

KatePosted:

when you create your xboxone account you and opt out of this. not a big deal what so ever.

Two_FacedPosted:

LebronIs6 They did it to improve speech recognition with cortana not any other weird reason. Now you should be worried if you use snapchat and iphone since they can legally use any of your information against you and store anything you send or receive


Hahaha you're so naive. do you really think it matters what's legal or not? Or do you think they would openly say If they did do anything questionable? Look at all the drama with Facebook.

ExamPosted:

I said some stuff to cortana :/

LebronIs6Posted:

They did it to improve speech recognition with cortana not any other weird reason. Now you should be worried if you use snapchat and iphone since they can legally use any of your information against you and store anything you send or receive

ZL1Posted:

Nice. I'm going to start sending some pretty weird messages from now on.

MushroomElmPosted:

Carl Thats super sketch but it seems everything is recording audio now adays. Like Amazon Alexa, Google off your phone and google home. Sad fact is if you use the internet its all out there already.


Exactly, and people think it's wrong but never bother to read the Terms of Service which practically gives those companies 100% legal right to do this.

I'm perfectly fine with them listening to anything I have to say..Tech is double edges sword. Even TTG has spies on it, whether Sean knows or not. Any kind of /popular/ social media outlet is going to have Big Brother scoping it out.

AnimePosted:

This has a little bit of a creepy feeling to it

CarlPosted:

Thats super sketch but it seems everything is recording audio now adays. Like Amazon Alexa, Google off your phone and google home. Sad fact is if you use the internet its all out there already.