I imagine that "compliance with international law pertaining to user data collection" is not covered by a 12% cut.
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Developing: Epic Games Launcher appears to collect your steam friends & play history (Up2: Valve responds, See Threadmarks)
- Thread starter Madjoki
- Start date
If it's important data that users don't want easily accessed or shared by 3rd parties then my expectations are not weird at all. "But everyone does it this way" isn't the response I expected here...
404 the usual Epic 'supporters' not found.
This is clearly a GDPR violation. But knowing Epic, I bet they know it and ready to pay the fine. It's nothing for them.
This is clearly a GDPR violation. But knowing Epic, I bet they know it and ready to pay the fine. It's nothing for them.
That data is encrypted on their servers. But they leave it decrypted on your personal disk. I don't know why but maybe because they don't want to decrypt file every time they write something in it.
It's not that this data is particularly important and Valve should guard it - But it's important when it's being accessed without my authorization. The fact I didn't buy a guard dog, doesn't mean you're welcome to my house if you can break my lock.
I'm guessing that's how they know that "Half of Fortnite players don't have Steam installed"
https://www.pcgamesn.com/steam-users-fortnite
https://www.pcgamesn.com/steam-users-fortnite
Yet they have been caught scraping way more than what he suggests and they have preemptively without permission lifted these things from apps that aren't even their own.
That was the exact response I expected from them as well to be honest, shady as hell.
Also, someone asked some very valid questions to that post (which I know for sure Epic will not address.)
1. Why does EGS make copies of Steam files (encrypted or not) without requesting explicit consent from users? "We can import your Steam friends" is not the same as "We will make copies of your Steam data from your local computer". Not to mention that from your explanation it appears this file is copied before the user chooses to import friends, and even if they do not choose to import friends at all. Other services offering linking to Steam use official APIs via Web browser - why do Epic not do this?
2. How did Epic collect the data enabling them to state the percentage of Fortnite players who use Steam? Is it through the above documented silent "process enumeration" method? If not, how did Epic obtain this data, and did they obtain user consent to do so?
3. Steam asks explicit permission before conducting their hardware survey, and before sending any of the collected data to Valve. Why do Epic not ask for user granted permission before collecting this data? This would appear to be a violation of GDPR regulations in Europe.
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Thank you, that was exactly what I was looking for, and yeah safe to say they have been engaging in this sort of scummy behavior for a while now, there is a clear pattern.
Didnt they know that over half of users of Epic Store didnt have steam installed? its obvious they are collecting data
This has been addressed since the first week of EGS launch in here. People simply never really pay attention to it.Ok finally found what I was talking in my post:
Epic stay classy.
And people were already aware back then.
Indeed. And that kind of penalty is probably nothing for Epic with Fortnite money.
So you're okay with something being very easy to steal, but mad when it gets stolen. I get it I guess. It's like some kid thinking his bike will be okay sitting on the lawn, while they run to the bathroom for 2 seconds, and then being extremely disappointed when it gets stolen. I'd rather Valve just not leave this stuff on their front lawn I guess.
How many other people are scraping this data that you don't know about? And do you care? Or only if they are caught doing it?
So you say you aren't victim blaming.
So why don't you stop doing the sterotypicsl victim blaming?
You literally have not stopped doing it since you arrived 12 pages ago,
You haven't even once mentioned the topic on hand OR the Epic update.
I can't wait Jim video for this.
Is the type of corporate business behaviour that he surely can't leave at the table.
Is the type of corporate business behaviour that he surely can't leave at the table.
Presumably it is because apps don't wander out of their directory, especially apps as high profile as Epic. But yes, it should be encrypted to a degree though why it's not? Who knows.
He'll ignore it. He ignored everything else Epic in his rant about Steam moderation and curation.
I mean... Wh... OK. Do you have all your data on your PC encrypted? Because I guess you're leaving it out on your lawn otherwise, it's as if you don't care that any program on your PC can just look at it and steal it.
Or do you expect from honest programs to not go around your My Documents folder making copies of whatever your have saved?
There is such a thing as "industry best practices guidelines" .
It is implied that any software you have knowingly put on your PC will not access another software's specific file directory without your permission and knowledge.
To follow your burglary analogy, to encrypt this non-sensitive (but valuable to competition) data would be akin to locking your bedroom every time your doorbell rang, just in case there's an armed robber there getting ready to knock you out- it's an extra precaution you would not reasonably be expected to have to take.
Original findings + Epic response
More than enough for Jim to make Jimquisition Special about Epic using EGS to breach trust of their users / clients, doing data privacy breaches and then using that mined data to "compete" etc.
Will he finally rake EGS for... anything?
More than enough for Jim to make Jimquisition Special about Epic using EGS to breach trust of their users / clients, doing data privacy breaches and then using that mined data to "compete" etc.
Will he finally rake EGS for... anything?
Nobody should steal that kid's bike.
Nobody should scape personal data without my permission.
Just because people still do doesn't make it any less illegal. The problem is not the kid or me, it's the people stealing/scraping.
Well I live in the EU and they certainly didn't care about violating the law when I tried to shut down my account, I am tempted myself now to report them, I still have all the emails and dates and how long it took for them to close my account as well.
Ok finally found what I was talking in my post:
Epic stay classy.
ye know what grinds my gears
He has a convenient blind spot for all the anti consumer stuff Epic has been pulling, despite being an obsessive hound when anyone else does it. He makes a lot of money from shitting on Steam, so shitting on a store that's so anti-steam might be cognitive dissonance for him, and he's propped up the EGS just to keep shitting on steam.
Have you seen his recent videos?
Ever since Epic launched the store, he never made any content about it. There was one video but it's directed to Metro devs, not Epic. It's clear where his alignment is.
How is this victim blaming again? The reality is people steal shit. Telling Valve to make it harder for their customer's information to be stolen is what then? Telling people to be careful because of reality is what exactly? Victim blaming, apparently...
I am not a lawyer. I would like to ask a general question. Isn't it very common that lot of service providers that use your information have privacy and data collection policies that include items like this? Like isn't this tame compared to the kind of information Google or Microsoft are ripping out of your machines at any given moment?
Again, I only glanced at the Wikipedia article for the GDPR. It seems like as long as it disclosed to you that personal data is being collected and you click that "I agree" button on any of these digital forms, then it is legal.
Privacy is important and Epic should release a more detailed explanation of their processes and intent, but I don't see why the ire is so concentrated?
Again, I only glanced at the Wikipedia article for the GDPR. It seems like as long as it disclosed to you that personal data is being collected and you click that "I agree" button on any of these digital forms, then it is legal.
Privacy is important and Epic should release a more detailed explanation of their processes and intent, but I don't see why the ire is so concentrated?
goddamn epic, the hell are you doing
RIP any goodwill they built up recently
RIP any goodwill they built up recently
fwiw he said the Metro moneyhat stuff was scummy
This is a violation of the very basis of the GDPR, that any company must disclose in full the data it's collecting and make the user agree to it before doing so. This is not holding up more than five minutes in front of a court.
Yikes, pretty happy I refused to install EGS. I can honestly say I expected something like this which is exactly why I haven't and never will.
They harvest and mine your Steam data did you agree to it or not.
That alone violates GDPR.
From what I'm aware regarding GDPR, data collection must be performed with our explicit consent for every piece of info. You can't put a large mambo jambo document with an "I agree" button at the end anymore. You have to clearly specify which data you are getting from the user and for what will be used for. Epic clearly violated this.
They are specifically targeting information related to their direct competitor. Under false pretenses and without appropriate disclosure.
Edit: I am not willing to assess the legality of this, but it certainly appears at the very least immoral to me, given their answer.
Coming exclusively to the Epic Games Store
Why am I laughing so hard at this.
Yeah, I was scratching my head for quite a bit there. What goodwill?
They have clearly stated that pushing for developers ahead of consumers is their way to reach the top.
Ok finally found what I was talking in my post:
Epic stay classy.
I don't know if it's the GDPR specifically or not, but isn't there some specific similar regulation preventing these sorts of UI dark patterns?
I do get the impression that some outlets hatred for Steam and their curation policy is making them turn a blind eye to what Epic is doing because they want a competitor at any cost.
It is very strange that these outlets aren't up in arms about this because honestly how Epic have been behaving is anti-consumer and really not good for PC gaming in general, now these things have also come to light it really is impossible to ignore unless you are actively trying to.
I would go as far to say that they have a responsibility to highlight what is going on and condemn it.