Xbox LIVE giving out too much personal info?

[Nick]

You'd think that Xbox LIVE is there to hook up like-minded gamers, yeah?

But Microsoft and Xbox LIVE are supplying just too much of your persoanl info to anyone who comes along.

Check out this Xbox LIVE Privacy Feature for more info.

[Lord Kordir]

Usually I would agree with you but this time round I think you may be blowing things way out of proportion.

Does anyone really care if other live users can see if they are watching a movie? It works both ways after all. They can't see which film you're watching can they? It's hardly a major invasion of privacy in my opinion. You are limited to doing the following with the 360 (I don't know how many options this tracks);

Game, Music, Photos, DVD Video, MCE, XBL

So, only people on your friends list or those that you've just played against can see if you're doing one of the above options (and no further information as to the detail). That is all they will see and they do not even see a sequence of events, only the current one. I really don't see that anyone who currently uses Live being bothered by this. It is just an evolution of the system used by the orginal Xbox. That did tell you if someone was in the dashboard or in a game. You could argue that even that is an invasion of privacy. Where do you draw the line?

Being a cynic, I think the gamercard is more instrusive than anything else. After all it does tell people which country you live in! Live gamers could even track you if you emmigrated, lol

[Nick]

I have to disagree. When I'm online with the PC, I can use any one of half a dozen game-finder type programs to find my friends... but I can then turn that program off when I want to do something other than game.

Xbox LIVE flags my activities to anyone I've come into contact with, all the time, regardless of whether I'm playing or not.

Why should Microsoft feel it's right that a total stranger should know I'm watching a movie or playing music?

What does me using MCE have to do at all with Xbox LIVE? The answer is 'nothing', so why tell everyone about it? And why tell people I don't know?

By all means, if I'm gaming, show people where i am and what I'm playing, but otherwise, let me do my thing in private!

[Lord Kordir]

I can only think of one legitimate reason for allowing people to see what you are currently doing (with relevance to gaming). I may be completely wrong on this one but it makes some level of sense to me.

If someone can see what you are doing on your 360 then they can invite you to a game or talk to you via the headset depending on that activity. For example, if a friend of mine was watching a DVD I probably wouldn't bother him, whereas if he was listening to music or browsing photos I may.

This functionality of Live only gives limited details as to what you are doing anyway.

[Nick F]

Why should Microsoft feel it's right that a total stranger should know I'm watching a movie or playing music?

As long as they don't tell people what you are watching does it really matter? It's not like anyone can do anything about it.

[iMc]

It's all a bit pointless really - why even bother letting people know that your watching a film etc... it's got no relavance to the Xbox Live service, it doesn't improve it in any way. They should implement a simple Busy, Playing Game etc menu to let you choose which Status you want to be in which is much more helpful and less intrusive.

Btw I'm not sure James The Juam would like everyone on the net knowing he was watching a movie...

[Nick F]

I'm sure there will be Live updates and the idea of a busy/idle setting sounds quite good. I can see people leaving their 360's on for a long period of time.

[Dooms]

I really dont see the problem with this, I mean its not saying "Nick is watching XXX HARDCORE POrN" it just says watching a movie.

Dont like it? Sign out of Live, it takes 3 button pushes. Set it so it doesnt auto sign in.

Only way I can see this being a problem is that if you have told someone you are doing something when you actualy are pissing about on your xbox. You know... its bad to lie

[XA04]

Wow that is pathetic of Microsoft.

[Lord Kordir]

Wow that is pathetic of Microsoft.

In what way exactly?

[Steve]

OK some people might want this, but no way should it be on by default. It should most definitely be a feature that can be disabled. Any word on this?

[Steven W]

It's a great way of making sure those employees are not playing video games whilst they are supposed to be at work!

Feels a little Big Brotherish, I don't like it at all.

[BlackDwarf]

Just gotten home from work, and you've obviously missed the privacy settings?



Settings can be 'Everyone', 'Friends Only', and 'Blocked'.

And excuse crappy picture quality, twas only my phone's camera, and it doesnt like CRT's

[Blackshear]

Main Entry: para·noid
Pronunciation: 'par-&-"noid
Variant(s): also para·noi·dal /"par-&-'noi-d&l/
Function: adjective
1 : characterized by or resembling paranoia
2 : characterized by suspiciousness, persecutory trends, or megalomania
3 : extremely fearful
- paranoid noun

Like the above poster said... if you don't like the feature; just turn it off... I really don't see what the big deal is.

[DR]

Main Entry: para·noid
Pronunciation: 'par-&-"noid
Variant(s): also para·noi·dal /"par-&-'noi-d&l/
Function: adjective
1 : characterized by or resembling paranoia
2 : characterized by suspiciousness, persecutory trends, or megalomania
3 : extremely fearful
- paranoid noun

Like the above poster said... if you don't like the feature; just turn it off... I really don't see what the big deal is.

Thanks for the helpful post.

However, surely it should be opt in not opt out.

[Blackshear]

Thanks for the helpful post.

However, surely it should be opt in not opt out.

...... and by that you mean it should be off by default? (I think that's what you mean). Well, maybe they should have made it that way but it's not like they are not giving you a very easy way to turn this feature off. I feel comfortable saying most people who play on Live don't feel bothered by fellow gamers knowing what game they are playing, or *gasps*, can see that they are viewing a picture, and if they do mind; what's stopping them from turning it off?

I understand some people are paranoid, but comon is this really somthing to kick up a fuss about? The solution to the problem is very easy and up to the owner of the 360.