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Sony could ‘monitor and record’ PSN text and voice conversations
Tue, 12th Nov 2013
FYI, this story is more than a year old

Sony's revised PlayStation 4 software usage terms reveal how the tech giant could ‘monitor and record' users PSN activity, which includes the content of your text and voice communications.

This information can then be used by Sony and/or its affiliate companies in compliance with the law in protection of the rights of Sony and those of its licensors and user, to protect the personal safety of employees and users and to enforce the terms of service.

Sony has commented that it cannot monitor ‘all PSN activity' and that it has made'no commitment to do so', according to Polygon.

"However, we reserve the right in our sole discretion to monitor and record any or all of your PSN activity and to remove any of your UGM at our sole discretion, without further notice to you," the statement continues.

"Your use of PSN and our community features may be recorded and collected by us or sent to us by other users as described in 13.1. Any information collected in this way, for example, your UGM, the content of your voice and text communications, video of your gameplay, the time and location of your activities, and your name, your PSN Online ID and IP address, may be used by us or our affiliated companies to enforce these Terms and the SEN Terms of Service, to comply with the law, to protect our rights and those of our licensors and users, and to protect the personal safety of our employees and users. This information may be passed to the police or other appropriate authorities. By accepting these Software Usage Terms, you expressly consent to this."

Sony adds that all software is ‘licensed, not sold' therefore users are only acquiring the rights to use software on the console but not own it. The statement also confirms users cannot re-sell ‘disc based software or software downloads' unless authorised by Sony.

Are you thinking of purchasing a new PlayStation 4? Do the new usage terms worry you? Tell us your thoughts below.