Microsoft has confirmed that the Windows XP version of its Windows Media Player is programmed to track which CDs users listen to and which DVDs they watch. The company also has altered its privacy statement to admit that its player software tracks DVD content, which was not previously mentioned. However, the company downplayed privacy concerns. For example, Microsoft disputed claims by snooping software watchdog Richard Smith that Windows Media Player 8, which comes bundled with Windows XP, cannot be turned off and poses a threat to privacy because of its tracking capabilities. Privacy advocates said the media player's capabilities fly in the face of Microsoft's "trustworthy computing" initiative, a new dedication to security and privacy that the company announced last month.
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