The launch of the PS5 is imminent, but there is still much we don't know about the console and its software. In the meantime, a new feature regarding voice chat has been announced.

Specifically, the PS5 will allow users to record voice party chats to make it easier to report malicious behavior to Sony. And this feature will affect PS4 players as well.

Originally, "Please be aware that voice chats in parties may be recorded and sent to us by other users. By participating in the voice chat, you are agreeing to have your voice recorded." People speculated that this meant that Sonny was listening to or recording private group chats.

In the post-Snowden world, we don't know with much certainty what is actually going on behind the scenes, but Sony claims that they are not recording anything. This was revealed in a blog post update for firmware 8.00:

"After this update, users will receive a party safety notice and the possibility that voice chat at parties may be recorded. Voice chat recording for moderation is a feature that will be available when PS5 is released and will allow users to record their voice chat on PS5 and submit it for moderation review. The pop-up currently displayed on the PS4™ will inform you that when you join a chat with a PS5™ user (post-launch), that user may submit their PS5™ recorded voice to SIE.

Sony is not listening to the recordings, and this is so that PS5 users can record the content of their voice party chats, specifically so that they can submit recordings for moderation. This means that if someone violates the Community Code of Conduct in a chat, even if they are using a PS4 console, they can report it to Sony with proof.

If anything, this notification message is a good thing, alerting you to the possibility that a PS5 owner is recording you in chat.