Microsoft touts Xbox Live data as source for targeted political ads on consoles

Microsoft console owners in the US may soon see political advertisements pop up on their dashboard in the near future, according to a report on The Washington Post.

According to the report, via Neowin, Microsoft representatives were seen passing out promotional materials during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington DC.

The materials handed out touted the firm's Xbox Live, MSN services and Skype as another source other than Internet, TV and radio, in which candidates could place campaign ads.

In the documents, Microsoft stated Xbox Live users would see targeted political ads show up on their Xbox consoles, depending on location and demographic.

It would work similar to how ads presently work on Internet, TV and radio: if you live in Texas, you would see ads for gubernatorial nominee Wendy Davis; in Alaska, you'd see adverts for senator Mark Begich.

Campaign ads connected with consoles are nothing new: in 2008 Barack Obama paid for ads to be featured in various EA games when he was running for his first-term as president, and his electoral campaign placed ads on Xbox Live when he was up for reelection in 2012.

More information can be found through both links.