The Dark Side of the PS5: Why You Should Disable This Feature

The PlayStation 5 is intended to become the go-to platform for all console gamers. However, one feature has a major disadvantage. The microphone in the PS5 controller puts data protection officers on alert.

The PlayStation controller is listening

A microphone is built into the DualSense controller of the PlayStation 5, so you can hear it even without a headset can entertain yourself while gaming. However, the actually useful feature is now calling German data protection officers into action. The digitalcourage website sounds the alarm and warns of a PS5 that can listen in on your private conversations.

The reason for the danger is a standard setting on the PS5. This means the microphone in the controller is always switched on and ready for transmission. It then hangs solely depends on the gamewhether you are initially muted or whether you broadcast your voice directly to other players.

This could also make it easy Private conversations are transmitted, which the DualSense controller absorbs. What's particularly misleading here is that the PlayStation 5 doesn't warn you that your voice can be heard. Instead, there is only a warning when the microphone is disabled. (Source: digitalcourage)

Sony now also offers a special Pro Controller for the PS5:

Here's how to turn off the PlayStation 5's microphone

Meanwhile, the PS5 is anything but new. Nevertheless, the microphone problem has not changed. After all, you can take care of protecting your data yourself. To do this, you can deactivate the microphone by default in your PlayStation's settings. To do this, you first have to select “Sound” and then the setting below “Microphone status when logged in” set to “mute”. The measure worked if the light on your controller lights up orange after a restart.

The data protection experts also give you a good reason why you should deactivate the default setting. In the PlayStation's terms of use, Sony explains that voice recordings are theoretically not only saved, but also whole reused or even sold as desired may be. digitalcourage would therefore like Sony to switch off the microphone by default through a software update. In addition, more transparency is required about when the microphone actually records your voice.