It seems Microsoft isn’t the only company adhering to “spying” on customers. In a new Software Usage Terms update (via Polygon), it states that Sony may “monitor and record” any or all Playstation Network activity. This includes all text and voice message data. The company has the ability to implement this practice through the Terms and Usage and will be complied with pertinent law. These terms apply to all authorized Playstation products such as the PS3, PSP, and even the PS2.

“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 [user-generated media] at our sole discretion, without further notice to you.”

“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,” the document goes on.

Accepting the Software Usage Terms allows Sony to hand over any information to the police or any other authorities. But even though the law is in place, Sony stressed that they do not plan to obtain exhaustive PSN records of players’ online history/action.

“We can’t monitor all PSN activity and we make no commitment to do so,” Sony said.

The updates Terms of Usage also mentions that all PS software is “licensed, not sold,” Which essentially means that players don’t actually own their software products, but only the right to use them. It also paves the way for the elimination of the used games market as Sony has the right to forbid secondhand gaming.

But the company did stress that they will not implement these laws. This update only ensures precautionary measures for Sony, used games and secondhand gaming will not be banned on PS4 or on any Playstation products past and present. These laws might make Sony look like a bunch of clever liars, but these types of laws are very common amongst most products and services. So consumers shouldn’t worry about purchasing their Xbox’s or PS4’s as their really isn’t an option to escape said laws unless you avoid most technological products and services entirely.

Nevertheless their next-gen console will release in just four days, on November 15 in North America; and on November 29 in Europe.