Genshin Impact‘s privacy policy featured a disclaimer indicating users’ voices were being used to train AI. This privacy policy, last published this January, has since been quietly updated to remove this clause.
Spotted by user Cevian on Bluesky, section 1 subsection xviii of the Policy, ‘what data we collect and process’ prior to the clauses’ removal stated: “Where applicable, our services may offer voice-based chat functions that allow users to communicate with others in real time using voice. If you choose to use such features, we may process voice communication data for the purposes described in section 2 and section 13 of this Privacy Policy, including providing communication services, maintaining service security and stability, content moderation, and complying with applicable laws and regulations.” This subsection has since been removed entirely
Section 2 of the Privacy Policy, titled ‘why we collect and process your personal data’ states, among many other uses: “Like many AI-powered experiences, we may use your user-generated input such as chat data to train and improve the model that we use to provide our Services. You can opt-out of model training anytime in your Service-related settings. Opting out will not affect your existing gameplay.”
It is worth noting that this was just once clause of Section 2, and other clauses including providing customer support and preventing malicious content to “ensure a harmonious and healthy online environment” are included. This same policy states that users must opt out of model training through service-related settings.
MiHoYo has been open about its embrace of generative AI in the past. It released a teaser for an upcoming Unreal Engine 5 MMO project that used generative AI late last year. This game, while largely still a mystery, will feature: “Artificial Intelligence Stimulated Eco System”, All-Terrain Battle AI, and “Intellectual NPC”.
Eurogamer has contacted MiHoYo for comment on exactly what users’ voice communication data is being used for, and why the subsection related to the gathering of such data was removed from the Privacy Policy.