Xbox Will Soon Be More Transparent Over How It Uses Your Data

The Xbox One collects data from players, as will the Xbox Series X, as do most objects that can connect to the internet. Now, Microsoft has vowed to be more transparent over what data is collected and what it's used for, and it'll be more straightforward to withhold data, too.

In a post on Xbox Wire by Dave McCarthy, the corporate vice president of Xbox Operations, some changes have been outlined. Xbox users will receive "an overview of the required diagnostic data" being collected, the post explains, and details of how it's being used.

Players will also be given the choice of sharing or opting out of providing additional diagnostic data, depending on their preferences.

Following an update on November 10--the launch date of the Xbox Series X and Series S--players will see the screen below.

Here are the required diagnostic data points that Microsoft will collect:

• Details of errors that might hamper the console’s ability to run games and apps
• Details of console setup success and failure to diagnose issues that would keep you from using the console
• Details of software update success and failure, as well as other console errors

Xbox will also stop collecting data from any voice searches, as well as speech-to-text. Xbox has been fairly open about what data is shared for a while now--here's everything they share with publishers about how you use the console.

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