Microsoft patents a ‘real-time parental monitoring’ tool

In an ever-more connected and mobile world, it is increasingly difficult for parents to be able to keep an eye on their children. Current tools are quite limited, such as requiring software to be installed, which can sometimes be removed by the child themselves or altered in some way or not providing the parent access to specific actions that are needing to be watched.

Microsoft, however, has recently patented a new tool called “Real-time Parental Monitoring,” that allows an administrator of a device to set boundaries. These boundaries can be used to control who someone can communicate with, contents of a message and the type. Additionally, it could also be used to check if a message is of a sexual nature. With this, it can send automated notifications to a parent if a boundary is breached.

While this tool is specifically titled towards parents, it appears that it could be used in a non-parental environment also, such as in the workplace, as it refers to device administrators and subordinate users, not just child users.

For some, this kind of monitoring could appear intrusive. What are your thoughts? Let us know below!