Escapist News Now: Sony Can Monitor All PSN Activity

[Escapist News Now]

Sony Can Monitor All PSN Activity

Days away from the launch of the PS4, Sony is making some not so subtle changes to their software usage terms.

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[Therumancer]

Well, nothing currently prohibits them from setting such policies, and EULAs like this have never been properly challenged in the right ways. Unless action is taken and laws passed by politicians to protect consumers from these kinds of forced agreements, there is no reason for the gaming and communications industries not to act like this and grab as much power as they can.

To be honest I think it's only a matter of time until some serious scandals start. With the fad for motion controllers and connected cameras and such, it strikes me as being an inevitable extension of these policies that Sony or other console manufacturers will argue they have effectively given themselves the right to any data gathered by the machine's sensors, including what is seen through or remotely recorded by them through the camera. Given that these machines are always on and connected and could be remotely accessed, I imagine it will take corporate snooping to a whole new level. Eventually we'll probably see a case or two where a company like Sony uses collected data to decide who to snoop on via the cameras looking for salable information and data. Not to mention the fun that will arise when Sony employees are inevitably caught peeping and recording young children who have game machines set up in their bed rooms.

To some the above paragraph will probably come across as a paranoid non-sequitor, and I guess it is to an extent, since I'm making predictions based on the direction things are going on. Oddly though I'm usually right, and probably within 5 years we'll see a cases eerily like the ones I'm describing above... with the important caveat that unlike normal cyber stalking cases the companies will use the agreements to defend themselves as having the right to gather this data and shield themselves from legal prosecution and/or civil suits, even if they wind up throwing the people caught actually doing it under the bus for PR purposes and damage control (there is however not much financial compensation to be gained from a fired employee, and those guys going to jail doesn't actually cost the company anything).

 

[ddrkreature]

Streaming capabilities and video recording for web uploads. No, this does not concern me much. I'm sure it's in place for these features so in case anything illegal or questionable should take place, sony can have evidence that it happened and take necessary action to keep feeds clear of people that may show their junk online or worse

 

[Karadalis]

Isnt that just the usual legal talk? I think something like that even exists in Origins EULA and Steams too.

Even steam claims that you just buy licenses even thought in steam itselfe it never actually tells you that you buy a license but instead tells you that you buy a game.

EULAs allready mean absolutely nothing here in germany because you are allways presented with them after you bought the product... so they are unfunctional to begin with.

But alas.. aslong as no one sues theres no case... and thats what Sony, microsoft and valve are building on when dealing outside the US

I mean wich private person really wants to go toe to toe with a multy million international company with a whole army of lawyers of the highest calibre at their beck and call?

So they will get away with it like usual

 

[Pink Apocalypse]

"Seems a little snoopy to me...what do you think?"

Glad you asked. I think this is a manufactured controversy.

Maybe the Escapist News Now reporter would be fine with idiots messaging profane texts, video, and pictures of their junk with complete anonymity, but I wouldn't. When the inevitable harassment begins (and it will begin), not requiring the information necessary to target the abuser for appropriate response isn't realistic.

I'm no fan of corporate data strip-mining of consumers to turn the consumer into a product themselves. But expecting total anonymity for a paid product environment is absurd.

 

[LysanderNemoinis]

While I thought Microsoft were being jerks for their snooping policies before the whole Xbox 180, I think this is crappy on Sony's part too. However, I don't really game much online and even if I did, I don't plan on streaming anything, nor do I ever talk when playing games online. Plus, I'd much rather have Sony snooping than the government, because at the very least you can turn the PS4 off or just not go online. You can't NOT use the phone or e-mail (or any electronic communications for that matter), and Big Brother monitors those at all times. Yet I bet everyone will be far more worried about Sony and Microsoft than the government.

 

[el_kabong]

Oh, man...I've been planning all my major crimes over the years using the Playstation Network. What am I going to do now?!? Sony will know where the bodies are hidden and where the money is buried! Wait...think this through, man...what would mobsters do with someone whose about to report their criminal undertakings? Got it: threats of violence! So, if PSN is listening, I want to let you know that I know where your family lives. Let's not have this get out of hand.

Seriously, if someone wants to monitor game invites and messages of people accusing me of modding COD when I win and being a n00b when I lose, they can go right ahead.

 

[faefrost]

I don't see this one as a matter of disrespect. PSN is essentially a public space owned by SONY. These are the rules that allow them to moderate that space and keep illegal inappropriate or just plain gross activities off their network. Which honestly is what most customers ultimately prefer. You are not contracting for secure private comunications. You are contracting for a common playspace that adheres to certain community standards of behavior (real people community standards... NOT gamer community standards. We really don't want to be paying for Lord of the Flies.) . Think of this as the "Please Keep your pants on for Lets Play Videos" clause.

 

[Xman490]

Don't forget about the Patriot Act and the NSA's privileges. This is no different from that.

And I don't care. If you do criminal or civil wrongdoings, you should be punished accordingly.
The key word there is ACCORDINGLY, of course.

 

[Raziel]

This doesn't trouble me, all that stuff is public information anyway, except the text messages. And even then its still on Sony's private system. I'm honestly surprised they don't already do this. I've always assumed they did.

To me this sounds a lot more like the base for some attempt to clean up online behavior. Which I am all in favor of. I play limited amounts online, not because of anything sony does, but because of the crap players do. If just one of the real jacka... I've had to play with gets banned with this info I'm more than willing to agree to these terms.

 

[Foolery]

Just means I won't be connecting my PS3 online anymore. I never play online anyway and all my PSN sign up data is completely fictional. I just like updates to titles if they need it. But if this kind of junk is a start of similar or more drastic things to come, count me out for the PS4.

 

[Quazimofo]

I?m not terribly concerned. I kinda assumed this was the general way of things on any online service which provided voice or text chat services. It is really no surprise that Sony would want to monitor and record activity on PSN for a variety of purposes. It?s hardly an intrusion of privacy when it?s no secret that monitoring is possible and one willingly uses the service anyway. Getting mad about this would be kind of like talking to someone past someone else and getting mad when the person in the middle hears what you say. If you don?t want others to hear, don?t allow a middleman.

 

[mysecondlife]

I don't see this one as a matter of disrespect. PSN is essentially a public space owned by SONY. These are the rules that allow them to moderate that space and keep illegal inappropriate or just plain gross activities off their network. Which honestly is what most customers ultimately prefer. You are not contracting for secure private comunications. You are contracting for a common playspace that adheres to certain community standards of behavior (real people community standards... NOT gamer community standards. We really don't want to be paying for Lord of the Flies.) . Think of this as the "Please Keep your pants on for Lets Play Videos" clause.

Agreed. Even secure private communications such as emails messages are being read in someways to filter out spam mails. I don't think there is complete privacy when it comes to internet.

 

[Saltyk]

While I thought Microsoft were being jerks for their snooping policies before the whole Xbox 180, I think this is crappy on Sony's part too. However, I don't really game much online and even if I did, I don't plan on streaming anything, nor do I ever talk when playing games online. Plus, I'd much rather have Sony snooping than the government, because at the very least you can turn the PS4 off or just not go online. You can't NOT use the phone or e-mail (or any electronic communications for that matter), and Big Brother monitors those at all times. Yet I bet everyone will be far more worried about Sony and Microsoft than the government.

Just means I won't be connecting my PS3 online anymore. I never play online anyway and all my PSN sign up data is completely fictional. I just like updates to titles if they need it. But if this kind of junk is a start of similar or more drastic things to come, count me out for the PS4.

And I guarantee your ISP keeps similar data on you. Got a phone service? So do they. Wouldn't be surprised to find similar data being kept by Steam, Origin, or any other service. Email accounts. Credit card companies...

None of these are doing what Facebook does and selling your data to advertisers. Often, they do this to help protect you. Credit card companies will note sudden odd purchases and question it, for example. I've even had my bank question my signature on checks, in the past.

This seems less like them doing something evil and more likely to be used for moderation and protecting the consumer. Both are things I would call good things. Sure, this could also open it up for Big Brother policies or selling your data to advertisers, but nothing indicates that at this moment. The main reason I don't extend this same defense to Microsoft is that they basically stated they can and will sell your data to advertisers.

 

[LysanderNemoinis]

While I thought Microsoft were being jerks for their snooping policies before the whole Xbox 180, I think this is crappy on Sony's part too. However, I don't really game much online and even if I did, I don't plan on streaming anything, nor do I ever talk when playing games online. Plus, I'd much rather have Sony snooping than the government, because at the very least you can turn the PS4 off or just not go online. You can't NOT use the phone or e-mail (or any electronic communications for that matter), and Big Brother monitors those at all times. Yet I bet everyone will be far more worried about Sony and Microsoft than the government.

Just means I won't be connecting my PS3 online anymore. I never play online anyway and all my PSN sign up data is completely fictional. I just like updates to titles if they need it. But if this kind of junk is a start of similar or more drastic things to come, count me out for the PS4.

And I guarantee your ISP keeps similar data on you. Got a phone service? So do they. Wouldn't be surprised to find similar data being kept by Steam, Origin, or any other service. Email accounts. Credit card companies...

None of these are doing what Facebook does and selling your data to advertisers. Often, they do this to help protect you. Credit card companies will note sudden odd purchases and question it, for example. I've even had my bank question my signature on checks, in the past.

This seems less like them doing something evil and more likely to be used for moderation and protecting the consumer. Both are things I would call good things. Sure, this could also open it up for Big Brother policies or selling your data to advertisers, but nothing indicates that at this moment. The main reason I don't extend this same defense to Microsoft is that they basically stated they can and will sell your data to advertisers.

I agree for the most part with you. I'm not overly concerned with it, even if I don't like it too much. Like I said, businesses having some data doesn't bother me that much. After all, if a business does something you don't like, don't buy their product and all the bad press (see most of the stuff Microsoft was going to do) will make them change. If Big Brother does stuff you don't like, your only real option is to move out of the country, as there's nothing you can really do to defend yourself.

 

[irishda]

THIS JUST IN: Escapist monitors all activity on Escapist website!

Seriously, they're monitoring activity on their servers. It's kind of what a company should do with their servers.

 

[lunavixen]

To be honest i'm not that worried as long as they don't start trying to sell me advertisements, I don't have my credit cards on the PSN (i use the prepaid PSN cards), I rarely play online anyway and if Sony can keep some of the people who have been harrassing me lately away, i'm happy

 

[vIRL Warlock]

I kind of deal with this with my 360 so it really doesn't matter all that much to me.

Not that I'm a lawyer but the language sounds to me that this is meant for them to track complaints, bugs, players, or otherwise.