Internet Explodes Over Origin's Invasion of Privacy

[funguy2121]

Also worth bearing in mind: corporations are "people" now (and when next our politicians start behaving like human beings I imagine a constitutional amendment to end this bullshit status will be on their short list), "people" who hire armies of lawyers to write themselves into a position of power over the consumer.

Perhaps write the actual developers, the project leads and their immediate subordinates and let them know how sad we are that we won't be playing this game, but that we look forward to playing their next game, the one that they make for another company that actually has scruples? I dunnoh. I suspect too many people are indifferent and/or cynical.

I frequently comment on these forums that the calls for boycotting game companies are melodramatic and that there are much more important companies to boycott (Foxcon, Monsanto, Wal-mart, Abercrombie-treatment of labor, untested genetically modified foods, carpetbagging, sweatshop products, respectively), but this is definitely worth boycotting. The legal side of privacy is going to go apeshit in the near future, and the collective consumer needs to be prepared. It's unfortunate (to be mildly euphemistic) that no consumer advocate holds office, except for the stray Kucinich here and Nader there.

 

[KiKiweaky]

Just wrote my email there it will probably get lost but what the crud ey ;D

The more I read the terms of service the more baffled I become why the hell do they want to collect so much information.

It hasnt specified that the application will work outside of itself (aside from getting your computers details like the os,hardware,ip address etc) though it did also leave a handy opening of "software" on its own and "software usage" after the initial software usage which i took as the term of service jutifying EA monitoring the use of their own games and services which i fair enough but it still why did they mention it twice?

Also gathering data on peripheral devices is totaly absurd, why do they want it? They dont need it at all, but why do they want it?

Anyway letter sent and I will deffo be monitoring this for any developments, oh that and slating ea when I'm talking to my friends.

 

[FalloutJack]

Oh my. That's illegal. Why it's practically theft and hacking by trojan.

 

[Atmos Duality]

I am very curious about your opinion on the term "Up, but not limited, to X" being used in a lot of these contracts. If any terminology is vague, it has to be the open ended argument that we agreed to something not stated in the contract because it falls under the many unspecified things covered by 'not limited to.'

Those sorts of "Including, but not limited to" clauses are traditionally used to say "We intend to change this in the future. Expect re-negotiation." which in itself isn't bad; it allows for more clear definitions of terms in the future and it informs the other party to expect changes for that field.

However, given the obvious lack of possible re-negotiation that would occur when they update the contract ("take it or leave it"), and the unilateral nature of what they're asking (remember, the user already paid for the license; this is an unnecessary and additional cost to the user), you are correct in assuming that the terms are vague and very one-sided against the user.

What worries me is that even if you fought the contract as-is (lets say you didn't give EA technical access to scan your computer) they could pull access to the game you paid for with no recompense.

The user essentially has no rights in this agreement; no safety or guarantees to begin with; only the unspoken/implied threat of a civil suit. But then EA takes it a step further and adds personal risk to the mix with a "waive all rights" clause on your information.

Nobody in their right mind, (who understands what it's actually saying) would sign that contract.

 

[The Virgo]

After scouring the internet for a good reaction video, I finally found one.

This is all the G-Man had to say to EA when he heard the news:

 

[The Virgo]

EDIT: Oops! Never mind. Accidental double-post.

 

[cystemic]

good thing someone posted this cos i usually never look at the user agreement... that would have been awkward

 

[aprildog18]

At least EA still allows you to uninstall Origin...

 

[Foxbat Flyer]

Well, i now know what game i will be skipping atleast until this is fixed!

VOTE WITH YOUR WALLET PEOPLE!

 

[satsugaikaze]

I don't know where anyone is getting the sense that EA is going to scan your computer and take screenshots of your personal information.

I mean, maybe it has the potential to be read that way.
But the impression I get from this is:

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.

So, basically they want to know:
OS - What's your preferred O/S
Applicaton - How often do you use Origin, was it installed properly.
Software - what games do you own and how often do you play them
Hardware - what hardware do you use to play your games

And they're going to use this to:
Make sure your updates work and provide content that appeals to you.


And people are somehow reading this as:
EA is going to scan my hard drive, catalogue, document, sort everything and send it back to the NWO.

Mind you, I do understand that in the above context it is a bit open ended (not having seen the whole thing). And a "software run through Origin" or "hardware relevant to the running of software on origin" or things of that nature may clear up any confusion.

This is probably the most sensible post I've read all day.

Can't you sheep just read the article properly? The 'uproar' being caused is not over the actual clause itself, but over what the writer of the article is projecting.

the worrying point is that they could be

"They could be". So basically everyone's making pledges to not buy EA's products, calling out to rally people to protect their rights to privacy, on the grounds that "they could be" sending information about the programs you access (in an anonymous way).

I hesitate to call this fearmongering, but this article isn't doing the paranoids in this community any favors.

 

[blankedboy]

2. Consent to WE OWNZ YOOZ.

You agree that EA may do you raw, no lube, and absolutely no pillow biting allowed. IF YOU DO NOT WANT EA TO DO THIS, PLEASE DO NOT GET INTO BED WITH THEM. We reserve the right to record and store the experience and upload to the internets so we can make moar money.

Um, gee, thanks for letting us know.

Surely I can just get a tentacle monster instead. It'd be more enjoyable and I'd lose less privacy.

Somehow.

 

[ResonanceSD]

At least EA still allows you to uninstall Origin...

as opposed to? You can uninstall steam.

 

[Mangue Surfer]

At least EA still allows you to uninstall Origin...

as opposed to? You can uninstall steam.

But your games stop to work if you do, not the same case as Origin.

 

[Low Key]

And I was really looking forward to BF3 too. Oh well.

Time to act like a retiree and send them an angry email.

 

[gbemery]

It still boggles the mind as to how this much of an invasion of privacy can be legal.

I don't know if anyone has answered you yet, but i believe the reason it is legal is because they tell you about it in the TOS and they give you the option not to download their product. Therefore if you download it you are legally agreeing that they can look on your computer where they like. If they didn't mention it in the TOS at all or made it rather vague as to its amount of poking around than it would be illegal. But it can't invade privacy if you allow it in in the first place.

 

[Sartan0]

the worrying point is that they could be

"They could be". So basically everyone's making pledges to not buy EA's products, calling out to rally people to protect their rights to privacy, on the grounds that "they could be" sending information about the programs you access (in an anonymous way).

I hesitate to call this fearmongering, but this article isn't doing the paranoids in this community any favors.

It is unacceptably broad and overreach on EA's part. Most of the ToS are these days. Might as well have a fight here and try to make a difference. I think most of us loath the way we are treated by these companies. Might as well let them know that.

 

[zarguhl]

Long story short, EAs Origin is obviously intended on being the worse thing in every possible way and they are using the fact that they have big name games that will sell no matter what to force it onto their customers.

They are literally doing everything bad that people hate, 100% knowingly, with the certainty that people have no choice but to take it from the rear.