Microsoft responds to NSA Security Concerns for the Xbox One

Depending on who you ask, the Xbox One is basically being made as a trojan horse to slip into your home and pass your data along to the NSA.  Realizing that this could probably be detrimental to sales of their new console, and Microsoft products in general, the company has recently responded to allegations about the extent to which the company furnishes information to government agencies.  From the sounds of it, it isn’t often, but according to Microsoft the government will not allow the company to completely come clean.

On the technet blog, Microsoft clears the air on a number of their products and services like Hotmail, Skype, and Sky Drive.   Microsoft believes that recent documents that were leaked have “significant inaccuracies” in regards to the extent to which they provide the government with access to customer information.

In fact, Brad Smith says that “We do not provide any government with direct access to emails or instant messages.  Like all providers of communication services, we are sometimes obligated to comply with lawful demands from governments to turn over content for specific accounts, pursuant to a search warrant or court order”

When talking about Skype and the communication tools used in the Xbox One, Smith goes on to clarfiy. “Looking forward, as Internet-based voice and video communications increase, it is clear that governments will have an interest in using (or establishing) legal powers to secure access to this kind of content to investigate crimes or tackle terrorism… Microsoft remains committed to responding only to valid legal demands for specific user account information. We will not provide governments with direct or unfettered access to customer data or encryption keys.”

This is definitely good news for those who have had their concerns about the issues recently raised by having Kinect a mandatory accessory to the Xbox One.