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http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/112559-Internet-Explodes-Over-Origins-Invasion-of-Privacy


Ah, EA, only you would be so bold. The Internet Senate will hear of this!

Typical EA.

I gather this will only afect the PC games and if you get the games on console they can not do this snooping about? (not that i have any thing to hide )

Sure Steu, erase that kiddie pron before you install it ya



I think stuff like that is just stupid, and should be illegal. But I dont play PC games hardly ever, and when I do, they dont require the internet. So go ahead EA, snoop away, you wont be affecting me at all

KingCracker wrote:Sure Steu, erase that kiddie pron before you install it ya



I think stuff like that is just stupid, and should be illegal. But I dont play PC games hardly ever, and when I do, they dont require the internet. So go ahead EA, snoop away, you wont be affecting me at all

An honest person has nothing to hide; only a criminal or traitor need fear their secrets being revealed.

Seriously though, I'm glad I had no intention of using this service.

Would be interesting to find out what ports this uses if it isn't just going all through one port to begin with, and then block it in your router. I plan on looking into doing just this.

I don't get this backlash.

That policy has been there for YEARS!

It's not even unusual. XBox Live, Steam, THQ, Activision, all the other big companies do the same thing. Where do you guys think the data used for that article about gamers and completely games came from? All the major companies collect this information. EA has been doing it since at least 2006. Steam has always done it!

The information isn't even all that interesting. It's about game completion, programs you use with your games, hardware and OS info etc. Its boring demographic information. This is the same thing as a tracker cookie in your internet browser. All it does it tell EA what you like to do with your games.

EDIT: Oh frustration. I just don't get why this outcry didn't happen years ago. This started with BF2 folks. It's hardly "news." I'm reminded of the Humancentipad episode of South Park.

Would be interesting to find out what ports this uses if it isn't just going all through one port to begin with, and then block it in your router. I plan on looking into doing just this.

It's part of the data stream for the game. You have to log into your EA account to play EA games and have had to for a long time and Origin is now replacing the old system. You can't block the stream without blocking the game.

"If you're sufficiently outraged to actually take up the fight, the good folks at Reddit have compiled a list of contact numbers and email addresses for EA public relations reps in the U.S. and U.K., giving you the opportunity to express your displeasure and demand answers from people who might actually be able to provide them."

Or, you could not install the service. Just an option.

The whole long unreadble TOS clickwrap is because people don't read the ToS and accept whatever is in there. If more people read and refused to accept software with these absurd terms, software companies would stop putting them in their software.

Although on an amusing note, Best Buy and the like don't really have a procedure to deal with you returning software because you don't accept the ToS. If I won the lottery, I'd love to take some time and really hash out the contract-formation rules regarding clickwrap.

LordofHats wrote:I don't get this backlash.

That policy has been there for YEARS!

It's not even unusual. XBox Live, Steam, THQ, Activision, all the other big companies do the same thing. Where do you guys think the data used for that article about gamers and completely games came from? All the major companies collect this information. EA has been doing it since at least 2006. Steam has always done it!

The information isn't even all that interesting. It's about game completion, programs you use with your games, hardware and OS info etc. Its boring demographic information. This is the same thing as a tracker cookie in your internet browser. All it does it tell EA what you like to do with your games.

EDIT: Oh frustration. I just don't get why this outcry didn't happen years ago. This started with BF2 folks. It's hardly "news." I'm reminded of the Humancentipad episode of South Park.

Would be interesting to find out what ports this uses if it isn't just going all through one port to begin with, and then block it in your router. I plan on looking into doing just this.

It's part of the data stream for the game. You have to log into your EA account to play EA games and have had to for a long time and Origin is now replacing the old system. You can't block the stream without blocking the game.

You cant stop the signal man!

I think the key part of the problem is the fact that it also takes information; from your non-gaming activities and files on your computer. Thats kinda...unneeded.

Mr Hyena wrote:I think the key part of the problem is the fact that it also takes information; from your non-gaming activities and files on your computer. Thats kinda...unneeded.

The EULA says no such thing. EA will collect information on:

computer (including the Internet Protocol Address), basically your IP address and hardware
operating system
Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal)
software
software usage
peripheral hardware

What I assume people are getting hung up on is the software and software usage. This refers to programs like Logitech Profiler, which are used to interface peripherals with games. Routers also fall under this as it allows them to gather information on networking technology for the purposes of the game. Nowhere in the EULA are they given permission to ramsack your computer or your hard drive at their whim or any of the other crazy nonsense I've seen people claim they will do. They aren't going to go into your computer and look at your diary or your music collection. Why would they? The EULA is only saying they reserve the right to gather demographic data on your usage of their program, the hardware, and what software/peripherals if any you use with the game.

I'm not even talking about if it's needed, just, or fair. They are collecting information that is useful for a publisher. They've been doing it for nearly decade as have most other publishers and no one cares until now in the middle of EA and Steam's slap fight over BF3? I was crying foul back when BF2 released and stopped playing PC games altogether for awhile. The fact is, that this information gathering is harmless, useful to the publisher (not that EA will actually make any use of it -_-), and doesn't do anything to your computer that programs haven't been doing since the late 90's.

EDIT: Everyone here probably already has a dozen programs on their computer that do this (anyone with Steam certainly does). Your OS does it.

LordofHats wrote:

Mr Hyena wrote:I think the key part of the problem is the fact that it also takes information; from your non-gaming activities and files on your computer. Thats kinda...unneeded.

The EULA says no such thing. EA will collect information on:

computer (including the Internet Protocol Address), basically your IP address and hardware
operating system
Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal)
software
software usage
peripheral hardware

What I assume people are getting hung up on is the software and software usage. This refers to programs like Logitech Profiler, which are used to interface peripherals with games. Routers also fall under this as it allows them to gather information on networking technology for the purposes of the game. Nowhere in the EULA are they given permission to ramsack your computer or your hard drive at their whim or any of the other crazy nonsense I've seen people claim they will do. They aren't going to go into your computer and look at your diary or your music collection. Why would they? The EULA is only saying they reserve the right to gather demographic data on your usage of their program, the hardware, and what software/peripherals if any you use with the game.

I'm not even talking about if it's needed, just, or fair. They are collecting information that is useful for a publisher. They've been doing it for nearly decade as have most other publishers and no one cares until now in the middle of EA and Steam's slap fight over BF3? I was crying foul back when BF2 released and stopped playing PC games altogether for awhile. The fact is, that this information gathering is harmless, useful to the publisher (not that EA will actually make any use of it -_-), and doesn't do anything to your computer that programs haven't been doing since the late 90's.

EDIT: Everyone here probably already has a dozen programs on their computer that do this (anyone with Steam certainly does). Your OS does it.

Actually, what's got most people hung up is that

A) your OS, STEAM, etc, tell you what is being sent, and allow you to opt out. EA does not. If you want to play, you MUST be connected and allowing EA into your system. Even Steam has an offline mode.

B) Program usage includes what files are loaded into that music player, for example. Technically, every part of your computer and file on it can be examined under this.

See, EA doesn't say 'we're collecting into from X for Y'. It just says we can take any info we want. Further, it says they can us it however they want, meaning they can sell it to who they want. So, are you going to trust EA not to sell your personal info to whoever?

Let me put this in perspective for you: given the way this is worded, for example, let's say that the .gov wanted to spy on you, for whatever reason. With this, they would not have to ever serve you with a warrant. They could serve EA with one, and examine the contents of your computer via EA's service.

To all you guys going Huurr Durrr Consoles! I might point out that to play EA's games, you would have to connect, one way or another, to EA's service (since EA seems to have stopped allowing you to opt out on this), meaning that disk spinning in the drive? That's got Origin Lite running on it and can probably do at least some of the same things. Depending on how it works, it might remain resident in memory while you go on to play other games. Or better, for those with things like that camera gizmo from M$ or some similar periferal, congrats, now you're streaming a live picture of your living room to EA.

Under the TOS, both would be things you have agreed to.

And, let's point to the business with DA2. You say something EA doesn't like? Guess what, with this, EA can now shut you out of single player games you have already bought. Let's keep those reviews POSITIVE, shall we? If the metacritic gets too low, Madden gets it!

KingCracker wrote:

LordofHats wrote:I don't get this backlash.

That policy has been there for YEARS!

It's not even unusual. XBox Live, Steam, THQ, Activision, all the other big companies do the same thing. Where do you guys think the data used for that article about gamers and completely games came from? All the major companies collect this information. EA has been doing it since at least 2006. Steam has always done it!

The information isn't even all that interesting. It's about game completion, programs you use with your games, hardware and OS info etc. Its boring demographic information. This is the same thing as a tracker cookie in your internet browser. All it does it tell EA what you like to do with your games.

EDIT: Oh frustration. I just don't get why this outcry didn't happen years ago. This started with BF2 folks. It's hardly "news." I'm reminded of the Humancentipad episode of South Park.

Would be interesting to find out what ports this uses if it isn't just going all through one port to begin with, and then block it in your router. I plan on looking into doing just this.

It's part of the data stream for the game. You have to log into your EA account to play EA games and have had to for a long time and Origin is now replacing the old system. You can't block the stream without blocking the game.

You cant stop the signal man!

While i could care less about this issue. 1+ for the Serenity reference.

Couldn't, could care less implies you care about the subject.

n0t_u wrote:Couldn't, could care less implies you care about the subject.

A valid point...

Monster Rain wrote:An honest person has nothing to hide; only a criminal or traitor need fear their secrets being revealed.

Seriously though, I'm glad I had no intention of using this service.

Yes, there is reason to fear.
If your data is stored, and they lost it to hackers, personal information can be quite lucritive to a criminal or traitor.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Brother Azul wrote:While i could care less about this issue.

Go on then, care less

I just signed up for Origin, too.
I thought it was going to help with patches, like for BF2142. Didn't read the ToS, so it's my fault.

When I thought I couldn't be less disappointed with EA...

BaronIveagh wrote:A) your OS, STEAM, etc, tell you what is being sent, and allow you to opt out. EA does not. If you want to play, you MUST be connected and allowing EA into your system. Even Steam has an offline mode.

Your OS does not allow you to opt out. Steam only allows you to opt out of hardware and software tracking not application usage.

B) Program usage includes what files are loaded into that music player, for example. Technically, every part of your computer and file on it can be examined under this.

Program usage refers to EA's application. Not some random program. I'm not saying EA is noble, they aren't, but randomly scanning through iTunes has the potential to get them sued by Apple (for example). No one wants to get sued.

See, EA doesn't say 'we're collecting into from X for Y'.

Yes they do. Their terminology is no more vague than anyone elses.

It just says we can take any info we want.

I guess everyone likes to just cry "Oh no EA is evilz" rather than actually read the EULA and examine how it has been used for the past decade. They don't take anything they want they take information relevant to their program while you are using it.

Further, it says they can us it however they want, meaning they can sell it to who they want. So, are you going to trust EA not to sell your personal info to whoever?

No it doesn't. It says "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."

They are not scanning random files and looking at other programs on your computer. They collect information on their program. It says they will use it as per the privacy policy. Read the Privacy Policy

(From EA Privacy Policy)EA will never share your personal information with third parties without your consent. We may, however, share non-personal data in the aggregate (in a form that does not personally identify you) with third parties. You may also opt in to allow EA to share your personal information with companies and organizations that provide products or services that we believe may be of interest to you. To opt out of further communications from a marketing partner or sponsor with whom your information has been shared, please contact that partner or sponsor directly.

Let me put this in perspective for you: given the way this is worded, for example, let's say that the .gov wanted to spy on you, for whatever reason. With this, they would not have to ever serve you with a warrant. They could serve EA with one, and examine the contents of your computer via EA's service.

Let me put this is perspective for everyone. Every game publisher does this. Not just EA. They all scan for the same information in the same methods using data streams that are only active when you are using their application. The government can serve any company that collects information on you (your bank, your travel agent, your employer ANYONE) with a warrant and get information on you. If they want it cheap they just deep scan the internet and they can get your whole life story without a warrant. Read further into the privacy policy. EA will give your information to authorities to adhere to the law. All companies everywhere will do this and many have a lot more information on you than EA ever will. EDIT: Your ISP for example.

How people use fear of the government baffles me. Why would the government (or anyone who isn't a music provider) care what music you're listening to? If you don't do anything illegal there is no reason to be worried about some agency coming to your door and poking around your personal information and activities.

This is absurd. Everywhere there are even media sources who should know this crying about a policy in place for years that every company has. It's ridiculous. This outcry was needed years ago not now. EA will just change some words around (if they bother) and keep doing what they've been doing at this point.