On Origin Data-Mining

[Aug 23, 2011, 10:16 pm ET] - Share - Viewing Comments

A post on The Escapist Forums notes that the end-user license agreement for EA's Origin service does not allow users to opt out of having data from their systems collected, and to avoid having your data mined, you must avoid using the service (thanks Joao). Here's the clause in question:

2. Consent to Collection and Use of Data.

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.

View

58 Replies. 3 pages. Viewing page 1.
< Newer [ 1 2 3 ] Older >

58.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 27, 2011, 06:56

Dev

Wolfen wrote on Aug 24, 2011, 10:50: Drayth wrote on Aug 24, 2011, 10:35: One thing about Origin I'm kind of pleasently surprised with is I'm able to download a game; copy the installed game directory; uninstall the original download; then install my copied game folder anywhere else that I like. When I did this with DA:O it then asked me for my Origin login credentials the first time I re-ran it in it's new location. That registered it with Origin and now I don't need to have Origin running, nor deal with a disc check when starting the game (have a store bought copy). This is actually better than Steam in my book. I can install where I want, and don't need to have Origin running to play. This'll be different with BF3 though, I'm sure, due to the multi-player aspects. That is indeed a one up on Steam. I really wish they would allow this as well. You can actually do something like this with steam, by using windows junctions. You can relocate a steam folder to anywhere, and place a junction that points from the original location to the new location. Steam can't tell the difference. You can do this with many programs in fact, since its a windows thing. Yeah its not built into steam, but its something one can do. I recommend this utility, makes doing this a dream: http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/hardlinkshellext.html

57.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 25, 2011, 03:50

xXBatmanXx

HorrorScope wrote on Aug 24, 2011, 20:22:
Shineyguy wrote on Aug 24, 2011, 16:00:
Good or bad, at least it's in plain english right there before your eyes for you to make a decision on..

That is true, don't bitch, just simply walk away. Absolutely the best way to get your message across as the only thing they care about is money, which you will be giving them none.

Well, a friend in the other hemisphere has stated that in his country this EULA is illegal and there will have to be an opt out....anyone familiar with that?




In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. / Few men have virtue enough to withstand the highest bidder. Playing: RL

56.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 20:22

HorrorScope

Shineyguy wrote on Aug 24, 2011, 16:00: Good or bad, at least it's in plain english right there before your eyes for you to make a decision on.. That is true, don't bitch, just simply walk away. Absolutely the best way to get your message across as the only thing they care about is money, which you will be giving them none.

55.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 19:10

Sepharo

My guess is the information will be no more detailed than what goes into a HijackThis log.

They'll be aware of metadata about running programs, startup programs, driver versions, hardware configuration, installed windows updates, etc.

Possibly using the stats overall in marketing like Valve does, "75% of users have such and such software already" They are not going to be transferring your files to their HQ or anything like that.

We've needed a digital privacy agency for a long time now. Random and request initiated audits of what personal information is being stored and how it's being used by knowledgeable privacy experts. When you buy a yacht but only report 40k in earnings the IRS shows up, the *** should show up when privacy concerns are raised about a business. Obviously the clause above would protect them from such an oversight but perhaps with the right regulation we wouldn't need such broad terms. They could say, "We are specifically using your data for these purposes." and the agency would confirm for the public.

NO NO REGULATION BAD RAAHHH I ONLY EAT STANDARDLESS MYSTERY MEAT




[I'm not trolling I'm just] tossing stuff like that in there only to get your panties all bunched up. -TrollinThundr

54.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 18:17

xXBatmanXx

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 trust them to keep that information seperate - you are a moron.

Lastly, the sentence just before that describes what they are going to grab and store - you know that your saved passwords or stored in the software they are going to mine right?

It is just all to risky to deal with EA. Origin can grab a spoon and eat my ass.




In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. / Few men have virtue enough to withstand the highest bidder. Playing: RL

53.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 16:00

Shineyguy

Good or bad, at least it's in plain english right there before your eyes for you to make a decision on..

52.

removed

Aug 24, 2011, 12:32

venomhed

* REMOVED * This comment was deleted on Aug 24, 2011, 17:24.

51.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 11:37

Luke

I'll put up with it because I want to play, And that is exactly what they are expecting people will sell there own family just for a game.................

50.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 11:22

Creston

Prez wrote on Aug 24, 2011, 10:03: Sepharo wrote on Aug 23, 2011, 23:23: What if hackers get a hold of my hardware configuration? LOL! Could you imagine the horrors they could unleash? Seriously, though, I'm not too keen on the part that says "EA may also use this information combined with personal information for marketing purposes". I really don't need anyone else trying to sell shit to me. I've already re-financed my house (twice), gone on a diet (7 times), switched cell phone carriers (16 times), gotten rid of that awful foot odor (36 times), increased my sex drive (123 times), enlarged my penis (1989 times), and converted all my IRA's, 401k's, mutual funds, and bank accounts to gold. What else can advertisers possibly do to improve my dismal life? Oh Good Sir, Have We Got The Thing For You! Creston

49.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 10:50

Wolfen

Drayth wrote on Aug 24, 2011, 10:35: One thing about Origin I'm kind of pleasently surprised with is I'm able to download a game; copy the installed game directory; uninstall the original download; then install my copied game folder anywhere else that I like. When I did this with DA:O it then asked me for my Origin login credentials the first time I re-ran it in it's new location. That registered it with Origin and now I don't need to have Origin running, nor deal with a disc check when starting the game (have a store bought copy). This is actually better than Steam in my book. I can install where I want, and don't need to have Origin running to play. This'll be different with BF3 though, I'm sure, due to the multi-player aspects. That is indeed a one up on Steam. I really wish they would allow this as well.

48.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 10:46

Wolfen

Rockn-Roll wrote on Aug 24, 2011, 05:38: What makes this so bad is that EA isn't allowing players to opt out. Steam gives you a choice...you don't have to allow Steam to collect any information if you won't want to. Also, Steam doesn't have any third party that they give information to...it's all kept in-house. EA is going to be selling information such as your email address, IP address, mailing address, and any other information that can be used for direct marketing...as long as it doesn't include anything personal i.e. your name, age, or birthdate. An email address is considered public just like a phone number or mailing address. I'm glad EA doesn't make any games that I'm interested in. Please tell me where steam allows you to disable it from tracking this stuff? You can opt-out of hardware surveys. That is MUCH different than the topic at hand which is general data mining of customer "usage".

47.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 10:35

Drayth

One thing about Origin I'm kind of pleasently surprised with is I'm able to download a game; copy the installed game directory; uninstall the original download; then install my copied game folder anywhere else that I like. When I did this with DA:O it then asked me for my Origin login credentials the first time I re-ran it in it's new location. That registered it with Origin and now I don't need to have Origin running, nor deal with a disc check when starting the game (have a store bought copy). This is actually better than Steam in my book. I can install where I want, and don't need to have Origin running to play. This'll be different with BF3 though, I'm sure, due to the multi-player aspects. One more thing.. when I put in my CD key for BF:BC 2 that I had from Steam it let me choose the digital deluxe version, so I got the Vietnam DLC for free.

46.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 10:15

siapnar

I'm confused after reading the mixed bag of responses here...

Will origin be able to snoop for things like saved passwords, credit card info, contents of private documents and worst of all, pics from my extremely strange fetish porn collection?

If not, I'm not sure this is all that big a deal.. :/




I have projectile dysfunction.

45.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 10:05

McSterls

I've already pre-ordered BF3, and think it will be the GOTY - but not liking this Origin service and their snooping at all. I'll put up with it because I want to play, but how many people will pass over this. Just a bad business model, and typical EA bullshit.

44.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 10:03

Prez

Sepharo wrote on Aug 23, 2011, 23:23:
What if hackers get a hold of my hardware configuration?

LOL! Could you imagine the horrors they could unleash?

Seriously, though, I'm not too keen on the part that says "EA may also use this information combined with personal information for marketing purposes". I really don't need anyone else trying to sell shit to me. I've already re-financed my house (twice), gone on a diet (7 times), switched cell phone carriers (16 times), gotten rid of that awful foot odor (36 times), increased my sex drive (123 times), enlarged my penis (1989 times), and converted all my IRA's, 401k's, mutual funds, and bank accounts to gold. What else can advertisers possibly do to improve my dismal life?




Prez on Soundclick http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=604888

43.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 09:34

Verno

briktal wrote on Aug 24, 2011, 09:31:
I was thinking more a social experiment on seeing how much hate they can generate by doing things Valve/Steam does.

Doing things worse or in a more obnoxious way than Valve/Steam does.




Playing: Faster Than Light, Tales of Graces F, Fire Emblem 3DS Watching: Ghost in the Shell, Hannibal, Oblivion

42.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 09:31

briktal

Rattlehead wrote on Aug 23, 2011, 23:49: I can't help but get this weird sensation this entire Origin/anti-steam/Battlefield 3 fiasco is just some giant social experiment on seeing how far you can go with alienating potential customers. I was thinking more a social experiment on seeing how much hate they can generate by doing things Valve/Steam does.

41.

Valve exceptionalism

Aug 24, 2011, 09:24

TheVocalMinority

Yeah go on split those hairs!




Assley Putz "Was vocalminority assley putzs most recent handle?" -nin May 16, 2012, 10:52

40.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 09:19

Verno

There's no compelling reason to use Origin thankfully so we can all ignore it. There are other multiplayer games coming out this year, I'll just play the 10+ SP games out in the next 3 months and Red Orchestra 2 instead of BF3. Maybe I'll bargain bin BF3 when its like $5-10, who knows we'll see if Origin still wants my first born son if I don't use the service for 2 months or whatever.




Playing: Faster Than Light, Tales of Graces F, Fire Emblem 3DS Watching: Ghost in the Shell, Hannibal, Oblivion

39.

Re: On Origin Data-Mining

Aug 24, 2011, 09:16

Optional nickname

The Data Origin will mine on me is: EA Account forcefully transitioned to Origin Account, Life Time Purchase and Login will be: Zero. However I will buy BF3 from a Local EB store, since I never played a BF before, and this one looks to be much better than the past, and if it requires me to login, well then they can mine my login hours, who cares.

58 Replies. 3 pages. Viewing page 1.
< Newer [ 1 2 3 ] Older >