Epic Games introduces voice reporting in Fortnite to combat toxic behavior. Players can record 5-minute voice chat segments for reporting bullying.

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LOS ANGELES, - APRIL 23: 15 year-old Yasmin the photographer’s daughter, plays Fortnite featuring Travis Scott Presents: Astronomical on April 23, 2020 in Los Angeles, United States. Travis Scott + Cactus Jack have partnered with Fortnite to produce Astronomical.

Addressing Toxic Behavior in Fortnite

Epic Games has rolled out a new tool to address toxic behavior in Fortnite, introducing voice reporting that allows players to record 5-minute segments of voice chats for reporting instances of bullying and harassment. 

To address privacy concerns, Engadget reported that Epic assures users that audio clips are stored locally on the device and are only kept briefly, with the previous recording deleted as each new one is made. 

In a likely bid to address privacy concerns, Epic assures that audio clips will be stored briefly and only on the user's device unless submitted as evidence. However, quick action is necessary as each new recording replaces the previous, allowing only the most recent five minutes to be reportable.

In standard situations, audio clips will be automatically deleted after 14 days or upon resolution of the issue, Epic Games stated. If the accused player initiates an appeal within this timeframe, the retention period may be extended by another 14 days. 

However, Epic emphasizes its commitment to retaining audio clips for as long as legally necessary when mandated. This initiative aligns with efforts from various companies, including Activision, Microsoft, Sony, and others, aiming to combat harmful online conduct. 

Enabling & Disabling the Feature

Fortnite indicated in its announcement the step-by-step process of enabling and disabling the feature. For players under the age of 18, voice reporting is automatically enabled during voice chats. 

If individuals within this age group prefer not to have their voice chat audio recorded, they can either mute themselves or disable voice chat entirely by choosing the "Off" option in their voice chat settings.

Parents can manage voice chat permissions for their children by accessing the Epic Account Portal and utilizing Epic's existing Parental Controls.

For players aged 18 and over, customization options for voice reporting preferences are available in the main Fortnite settings under "Audio" > "Voice Reporting." Users can choose between "Always On" or "Off When Possible."

Opting for "Always On" activates voice reporting in every channel the player is engaged in. Conversely, selecting "Off When Possible" deactivates voice reporting in friend-formed parties where all participants have chosen "Off When Possible." 

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Mashable reported that voice reporting remains active in Party Channels that include one or more players with voice reporting set to "Always On" or a player added through the Looking for Party feature.

It's important to note that the "Off When Possible" setting exclusively pertains to Party Channels, while voice reporting remains consistently enabled in Game Channels connecting players on the same team but in different parties.

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