Concerns regarding Xbox One's always-on Kinect 2 camera and microphone have been rekindled by recent reports about NSA collaboration with large companies to spy on their users.
Of course Microsoft is assuring it customers that Xbox One features "robust" privacy features; and of course a lot of users believe that those promises aren't worth the ink they're printed with. And that's where Gaming accessory maker PDP steps in.
The primary function of PDP's $19.99 Xbox One Kinect 2 TV mount accessory is to mount Kinect on top of flat screen TVs instead of laying it down on a nearby table. However, the accessory double-functions as a privacy protector as it comes with a free "privacy cover" that blocks Kinect's REGB and Infra-Red cameras.
In the meanwhile, Microsoft stands its ground that such a privacy cover isn't needed as
"You are in control of what Kinect can see and hear. By design, you will determine how responsive and personalized your Xbox One is to you and your family during setup. The system will navigate you through key privacy options, like automatic or manual sign in, privacy settings, and clear notifications about how data is used. When Xbox One is on and you’re simply having a conversation in your living room, your conversation is not being recorded or uploaded."
The Kinect 2 TV mount accessory and its privacy cover will be ship on December 4th, nearly two weeks after Xbox One's launch on November 22nd, 2013.