Sony has spoken out about the recording of voice chats after a text message led numerous users to conclude that they are being monitored by the PSN operator.
The PS4 firmware update 8.00 was available for download yesterday. It not only caused problems, but also confused users. The trigger was a cue that players see when entering a party chat, notifying them that a recording may occur.
After the issue in recent hours in the social networks went viral the company made some clarity for it. Sony confirmed that the PSN operator itself will not record any voice chat parties. The players themselves, however, have the option of recording these chats and submitting them for moderation.
#PS4UPDATE is a great way to lose customers. Sony just lost the new console war before it even started. Recording PRIVATE party chat? Fuck privacy, and fuck Sony. Going back to Xbox.
— Mad Drummer (@TheMad_Drummer) October 15, 2020
Following this update, users are seeing a notification about Party Safety and that voice chats in parties may be recorded. Voice chat recording for moderation is a feature that will be available on PS5 when it launches, and will enable users to record their voice chats on PS5 and submit them for moderation review. The pop up you’re seeing on PS4 right now is to let you know that when you participate in a chat with a PS5 user (post-launch), they may submit those recordings from their PS5 console to SIE.
That means: Sony itself has no intention of monitoring your chats. Also on Twitter, it was made clear once again that there is no attempt to record your conversations: “The notification advises you that other users may be recording your voice conversation. We do no record party chats,” said Sony.
Hello! The notification advises you that other users may be recording your voice conversation. We do no record party chats. ^PS
— Ask PlayStation UK (@AskPS_UK) October 14, 2020
The information that can be sent to Sony includes your content, voice and text messages, game videos, the time the activities took place, and the location of the device on which they were carried out, your real name, your PSN online ID and your IP address.
If you want to shut out the outside world a little more: The PS4 includes an option to deactivate voice recording. It’s a feature that has been in PS4 settings since the console was launched in 2013 and can still be activated today.
