“Spying” and “data collection” aren’t fun terms and may set off alarm bells in anyone’s head. For the most part, people are aware that their devices know things about them that they don’t always want them to know, usually for the purpose of marketing and displaying advertisements. Online games can also be a source of anxiety for many people, but the information collected isn’t always bad.
3 Ways Games Can Collect Information About You
You might be relieved to know that cartridge games can’t spy on you, nor can offline games after their initial download. Most user data comes from games that use the Internet or store your data somewhere other than a local storage device. The main worry about spying comes from games that can be played online, with or without others.
1. Cameras
Cameras are a big contingency point for privacy concerns. People cover their laptop cameras frequently for that reason alone. Most consoles don’t have a built-in camera — you have to attach one. Computers, especially those owned by streamers, likely have cameras built-in. If you’re concerned about camera privacy, choose to cover your camera when you aren’t using it.
The Xbox Kinect has come under fire for its surveillance and the depth with which it can capture the human form, making it concerning to people who feel like they’re being watched. Xbox has announced that the Kinect’s camera does not process data unless switched on.
Still, despite these worries, the Kinect can be used for good, even in cases where there isn’t a single gamer in the home. Having a Kinect in the home can help sense when an elderly adult has fallen and can help them receive help faster. It can mean the difference between life and death for some people, depending on who can see what the camera sees.
2. Microphones
Microphones on gaming consoles allow you to play online. They’re easily integrated so that you can communicate with your friends or even random strangers without much of a hassle. Still, if you don’t plan on playing online with people, microphones may not seem necessary.
In that case, you can wind your microphone up and put it somewhere else until the day you aim to use it. However, integrated microphones are a little harder to deal with because they’re likely built into the device.
3. Online Data Usage
Online games can keep track of your decisions because their saved data isn’t stored locally. It’s how developers can pull statistics out and impress you with trivia or statistics. It helps game makers see just how many people play the game. The Elder Scrolls Online remains a popular game with anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 players every day. Without tracking who opened the game, you wouldn’t have that kind of knowledge.
Data collection can work for the benefit of you and other users at this point. If a boss is too tough or terrain too challenging to navigate, developers can use the data they’ve acquired from online players and know to tone down the difficulty level. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship — developers get much-needed data to refine their games, and you get a more fun gaming experience.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
There are laws against over-the-top surveillance. Data Protection Day, observed in January each year, commemorates the first international treaty regarding data collection, privacy and protection. You can follow the recommended policies and procedures to keep your online data safe from a data breach. Brush up on your knowledge about how frequent data breaches are, and change your passwords to unique, strong strings of letters, numbers and symbols.
If you’re worried about someone spying on you through your cameras, you always have the option to turn them off and unplug them. When you aren’t using your Xbox Kinect or PlayStation 4 VR headset, you can unplug the cameras and put them somewhere else. You can also cover your computer camera while gaming if you want an added sense of privacy.
On a PlayStation 5, all you need to do is tap the microphone button on your controller to turn it off. You can also speak directly into the controller to use voice commands for your console if you want to. These controls make it much easier to toggle when a device is on and when it’s not recording. Remember to turn your devices back on eventually if you’re a streamer who records games you play. When it doubt, turn it off to give yourself peace of mind.
Don’t Fret Too Much About Your Gaming Habits
As with anything, the duality of privacy while gaming is complex. Privacy will always be an issue online. Gaming is the last hobby you want to stress over. Still, you have to remember that there are other sources of cameras, microphones and tracking devices in other areas of your life. In this age of technology, every device around us can spy on us if someone wants it to, from your phone to your car. You shouldn’t lessen your gaming experience just for that.
Many games have to collect the necessary data for their games to run correctly. You should have the choice to opt-out of additional data collection, just as you do when you visit a website. Also, there is some benefit to you or the general public thanks to a fair amount of “spying,” such as preventing injuries or improving gaming experiences. It’s far from ideal, but at least you can enjoy your games in peace — and use voice controls and your camera when it suits you.