Privacy concerns with Origins

[Andy T]

I was looking forward to getting BC3, even with origin, until I saw this article:
http://www.1up.com/news/privacy-concerns-emerge-origin-eula?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews
Here is the snippet from it that I'm particularly unhappy with:
"You agree that EA may collect, use, store and transmit technical and related information that identifies your computer (including the Internet Protocol Address), operating system, Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware, that may be gathered periodically to facilitate the provision of software updates, dynamically served content, product support and other services to you, including online services. EA may also use this information combined with personal information for marketing purposes and to improve our products and services. We may also share that data with our third party service providers in a form that does not personally identify you. IF YOU DO NOT WANT EA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE, TRANSMIT OR DISPLAY THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, PLEASE DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE APPLICATION. This and all other data provided to EA and/or collected by EA in connection with your installation and use of this Application is collected, used, stored and transmitted in accordance with EA's Privacy Policy located at www.ea.com. To the extent that anything in this section conflicts with the terms of EA's Privacy Policy, the terms of the Privacy Policy shall control."
Is this issue as big of a concern as it seems?

 

[paperfist]

It's a POS for sure, but look around at gaming EULUs in general and they all contain some kind of wording sure to piss you off, take your liberty and throw it in your face.

Gamers really need to get together and somehow get involved against this tyranny, but I like many are too lazy playing games to do anything about it

There was a thread about this before http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2178853&highlight=origin

 

[Golgatha]

Nothing to see here. Steam and every other digital service provider does the exact same thing. I do believe Steam lets you opt out of sending in your hardware configuration though.

 

[lord_emperor]

http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey

http://www.valvesoftware.com/privacy.html

Collection and Use of Information
By using Valve's online sites and products, users agree that Valve may collect aggregate information, individual information, and personally identifiable information, as defined below. Valve may share aggregate information and individual information with other parties. Valve shall not share personally identifiable information with other parties, except as described in the policy below.

Glad I use neither of these services.

 

[sigurros81]

I feel like my privacy is already compromised everytime I log on the internet, so what's one more window for marketers to access your private data. Everytime I visit my facebook account, I see an advertisement to my local area. If you're going to cry about Origin, might as well not get on the internet at all. My biggest gripe about Origin is that I have to install another jackass client on my computer. It would have been nice to use just Steam.

 

[Zargon]

EA tweeted that they changed the Origin EULA due to complaints

 

[CuriousMike]

It's called telemetry.

They're collecting data on how often you use the tank. Or chopper.
They collect your framerate based on your hardware config.
They collect your average ping times based on what server you're on.
Some of what they collect shows up as your "stats".
Some of what they collect they use to determine issues with the game ( why is no one every playing this map / vehicle.)

Part of being unique is your unique sessionId - when you start and stop the game. That's usually enough to identify "you" as a unique entry.

Sometimes they need personally identifiable stats -- perhaps they keep your chat messages for XYZ days in case there are complaints.

If you play any online game ( or any game with any online component), *they're tracking data on you.

*They're = any company.

 

[Elixer]

Time to, once again, run packet sniffers on your own network.

 

[SMOGZINN]

One of the problems with this is that these contracts are more often then not being made with minors. The entire bundled EULA thing has so many legal issues that I'm surprised that it has stood up this long with out a court completely smacking some company for these quite frankly illegal practices.
But, big money nearly always wins in todays courts.

 

[Barfo]

Time to wear the tinfoil hats

:thumbsup: