Xbox

"We also share personal data among Microsoft-controlled affiliates and subsidiaries, including for the purposes described in this privacy statement. We also share personal data with vendors or agents working on our behalf for the purposes described in this statement... We also obtain data from third parties. These third-party sources vary over time and include: Data brokers from which we purchase demographic data to supplement the data we collect."

Microsoft shares data broadly with affiliates, subsidiaries, vendors, and also purchases demographic data from data brokers to supplement its collection, creating a wide ecosystem of data sharing.

"For these purposes, we combine data we collect from different contexts (for example, from your use of two Microsoft products). For example, Microsoft Store uses information about the apps and services you use to make personalized app recommendations... We use data we collect through our interactions with you, through some of our first-party products, services, apps, and web properties (Microsoft properties), and on third-party web properties, for advertising."

Microsoft combines user data across multiple products, services, and third-party websites to build unified profiles for personalization and advertising purposes.

"Location data. Data about your device's location, which can be either precise or imprecise. For example, we collect location data using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) (e.g., GPS) and data about nearby cell towers and Wi-Fi hotspots. Location can also be inferred from a device's IP address or data in your account profile that indicates where it is located with less precision, such as at a city or postal code level."

Microsoft collects both precise and imprecise location data through GPS, cell towers, Wi-Fi hotspots, and IP address inference, covering a wide range of location tracking methods.

"Contacts and relationships. Data about your contacts and relationships if you use a product to share information with others, manage contacts, communicate with others, or improve your productivity. Biometric data and identifiers. Data about you resulting from specific technical processing relating to your physical, physiological, or behavioral characteristics which allow or confirm unique identification... Device, connectivity, and configuration data. Data about your device, your device configuration, and nearby networks."

Microsoft collects an extremely broad range of device and personal data including contacts, biometric identifiers, nearby network information, device configuration, installed software, and sensor data like skeletal tracking from Kinect.

"Microsoft retains personal data for as long as necessary to provide the products and fulfill the transactions you have requested, or for other legitimate purposes such as complying with our legal obligations, resolving disputes, and enforcing our agreements. Because these needs can vary for different data types, the context of our interactions with you or your use of products, actual retention periods can vary significantly."

Microsoft provides no specific retention timelines for most data types, using vague 'as long as necessary' language with broad justifications that allow indefinite retention.

"Microsoft Privacy Statement Last Updated: March 2026... This privacy statement explains the personal data Microsoft processes, how Microsoft processes it, and for what purposes. Microsoft offers a wide range of products, including server products used to help operate enterprises worldwide, devices you use in your home, software that students use at school, and services developers use to create and host what's next."

The privacy statement is updated unilaterally with a 'Last Updated' date but no mechanism requiring user consent to changes; continued use of Microsoft products implies acceptance of the updated terms.

"After you submit the request to close your child's account, we will wait 60 days before permanently deleting the account in case you change your mind or need to access something on the account before it is permanently closed and deleted. During the waiting period, the account is marked for closure and permanent deletion, but it still exists."

Microsoft imposes a 60-day waiting period before account deletion is finalized, during which data continues to exist in their systems. Additionally, deleted items in services like Outlook remain for up to 30 days after user deletion.