EA's "spyware" targeted by CA lawmaker

thank you. Make EA the example and teach the others a valuable lesson (spyware = bad)

Wow, thank you, Mrs. Saldana, for finally introducing some gaming legislature that actually helps people, and isn't ultimately a huge waste of my tax dollars. Also, thanks for being from California and being Hispanic XD

This is great news. Way to go Saldana.

Awesome, but instead of a warning letting the buyer know their private data might be at risk, how about eliminating the risk all together by not letting companies like EA do this?

I know in reality, most spyware is bad, but in princible, gathering user data isn't a bad thing. Usage stats are an important part of understanding how people use software. Take web programming for example. I have to know which pages my users view the most, and how they get to those pages. I need to know which features are used the most and what features need to be improved. If I had no data on actual use, I'd have to rely on the few people that answer surveys.

I don't have time to fill out a detailed survey on what parts of a game I like or dislike. I have no problem letting EA or any company see what parts of the game I play and which I ignore.

That said, this bill is a good thing. Consumers must be informed fully before they purchase the game. This way they can make an informed decision.

Of course, if I remember correctly, the only data this "spyware" gathered was in regards to a user's general location. People over-reacted because they saw the word spyware.

For once - I actually support a politician.

I've been boycotting EA for a while due to this and other crap they've pulled. If you'd like to show your support, here's the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/bf2142ad/petition.html

Thanks to Ms. Saldana for taking some initiative here. While winning a suit may be tough, maybe this will be enough to show EA that we're not happy.

Probot, you are correct when you say usage stats are sometimes helpful when making or fine-tuning software. Valve's Steam service has a hardware survey that they do a few times a year, and it collects data on types of PCs that people are running Valve on. But, they let you know in advance that they are doing this, and they let you opt-out if you don't want to share data. EA is only using this data to generate more revenue for themselves and not using the data to fine-tune the game or to see what people like or don't like about the game. It is pure greed, which is wrong.

Every store that sells PC software has a 'no return if opened' policy', and the only way you could find out about the spyware is by opening the product. If you didn't like it you were SOL.

I think all that will come of this is that EA will just use generic ads for the game and give people access to an app that removes the spyware portion of the game. But I have been wrong before.

"EA is only using this data to generate more revenue for themselves and not using the data to fine-tune the game or to see what people like or don't like about the game. It is pure greed, which is wrong."

I agree that they aren't using the data to fine tune the game. They are using it for their in-game ads. The ads allow them to make more money. Making money is NOT wrong. I'm completely ok with them doing things just to increase their profit margins.

In this case, they were just getting your IP address to find your general location. Your IP address is not private information. Joystiq has it. Any site you visit has it.

Like I said, this bill is good in that it forces companies to inform the consumers about any kind of data gathering. Informing consumers is a good thing.

If they really want to push this issue, they have to spin it. "Think of the children!" is always a good one. Did you know that game companies can be collecting PRIVATE INFORMATION about YOUR CHILD's ACTIVITIES while they are playing video games?

How vile!

I have no problem with this except for the fact that the game costs the same price as a game that does not have it

Ok, I guess the people that install it AND THEN COMPLAIN are completely fucking retarded. There is a huge warning slip right after you open the box. It's impossible to miss, since you have to get under it to get the cd-key.

All the "spyware" does, anyway, is collect data so that the ads are more specific to your tastes. It's anonymous data collection, and it's a good thing.

Re: #12 - There is a huge warning slip right after you open the box.

Again, as someone has already said once you open the software you can't return it to the store again if you don't want to participate in EA's data gathering system. If EA wanted to be responsible about this they would put a disclosure on the outside of the box so people would be able to read it before they decided to purchase it.

*chuckles at all of the faux-libertarians* Suddenly, support for interference in video games. How odd.

hehe, there is no spyware, all it does is track you're IP as to give adverts in you're language. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either a conspiracy theorist or a fool. :p

Agreed with #12 about it, I think the key part is what "personal data" are being collected. Things, like IP address, can also be considered as "personal data".

However, it may be needed for BF2412 may to do any optimization to line you up with a server close to you.

The next question then is whether or not it is okay to use those data for advertisements, such as localizing advertisements into the region that ties to your IP.

My stand is that it is okay as long as they are not distributing it to any other companies, and not using it for any other purposes. In fact, Google is actually doing the same thing in gmail.

For #14, I remember the older version BF has a version of offline mode, and you can also join non-EA servers. I am not sure if it is still the case with BF2412, but I think EA can argue that you don't use their online servers which are free of charge... and you still can play the game without EA servers.