You can't have 'shame' without the letters E and A
More shameful goings on from the house that Madden and FIFA built. Did you know you can't play online without signing up for annoying mailouts? Oh, and they also get your credit card info with that too.
So after being auto registered for EA's mailouts just so i could play Battlefield's online demo, I got this mail:
Greetings,
This is an auto-response in reply to your message to Electronic Arts Privacy Policy support service. If your request is regarding our Privacy Policy, your query will be dealt with as soon as possible. We apologize, but emails regarding support, technical support, suggestions, in-game issues, etc. are not supported from this email address. For Game Support, call the technical support number in the manual supplied or visit one of our support sites listed below.
Are you trying to opt out of a mailing list?
You can do so yourself by clicking on the 'unsubscribe link' at the bottom of the email you received. You will be taken to a page where you can remove your name from the mailing list. If you are having problems using the link provided, please forward the original email to us with OPT OUT in the subject field.
Best Regards,
The Privacy Policy Team
ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
You may find a complete copy of our privacy policy @ http://www.ea.com/global/legal/privacy.jsp
So optimistically, I opt out, thinking I can play online without having my details in the hands of yet another multinational global company.
"Hi Dan,I've removed you from our mailing list as requested. I need to advise
you that removing your email address from our database means you're
unable to play any EA game on Xbox Live.Do you still wish for your email account to be removed and therefore
closing your EA Xbox Live account?Please let me know how you wish to proceed.
Best regards
Raj
UK Privacy Policy Coordinator
Electronic Arts Ltd"
I was wrong.
The most alarming thing, is that in the policy, Microsoft has given EA your credit card information.
This means that if EA ever does start charging for their online titles, they technically already have your consent. Uh oh.
Comments
Under UK law (and don't quote me, I'm not a lawyer, I just know a bit about the credit card stuff ) they do not have your consent, even if they have been given your credit card number by a third party. Your consent to allow payment can only be grated by you directly.
As for the email address, I don't think that's compatible with the DPA. You should, under UK law (and you got an email from the UK) to have your email address removed, or opted out, without it affecting anything you have paid for. (Funny how you want my email address for me to post here :p)
Posted by: NotALawyer | April 6, 2006 8:18 AM
This is ironic, isn't It?
NOOOZ
A news gathering page of the finest stories and media in the realm of games, movies, science and random good and evil. Sign up for the newsletter or just read the site. Your choice.
Comment Submission Error
Your comment submission failed for the following reasons:
Name and email address are required.
Posted by: No Doubt | April 6, 2006 12:54 PM
Hi gents.
Good point on the irony :)
You've got a very good point actually.
When I got Stew to set up the site (and a good job he did too), he put this in. I probably suggested it, but hey, at least you can put a fake email address in there.
I always use blah@blah.com.
If you do that on the Live service, you can't use it as it's attached to your credit card info and so on.
So we're still better ;-)
But yeah. Good point overall. You've given me something to meditate on.
Posted by: Site Overlord | April 6, 2006 8:01 PM
I find it pretty funny that you have VALID CSS & VALID HTML tags to the right under 'Search'..
Actually.. what I find funny is that #1, they're not links.. and #2..
@@@@@ THIS PAGE IS NOT CSS NOR HTML VALID!@@@@@@
Stop Lying!
http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/validator?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.noooz.com%2Farchives%2F2006%2F04%2Fyou_cant_have_shame_without_th.html&usermedium=all
Posted by: Kefs | April 6, 2006 8:35 PM
Hmmm.
*coughs a little*
STEWART!!!!!
Posted by: Site Overlord | April 7, 2006 12:30 AM
why?
why does EA require your email and credit card info? If they are collecting it for fun, I can understand. This is an organisation that 'challenges everything', including logic.
Posted by: Site overload | April 7, 2006 6:27 AM
Actually,
They are, until any sodding links are added, then the backend system cocks it up...
So whilst technically NOT true, the CSS AND base template ARE valid.
I'll leave it there ;-)
Posted by: Gilrod | April 7, 2006 9:32 AM
freaky microsoft and EA.
i think they don't want us to play XboX Live..that has 2 be it ;)
regards Tom (Holland)
Posted by: Tomster | April 10, 2006 8:37 AM
Please contact me by ICQ: 296655273. I have a news for you.
Posted by: Roland Glicks | June 4, 2006 2:32 PM
LOAN OFFER !!! LOAN OFFER !!!
I am Robert olu, AND I'M A CUNT WHO SPAMS THE INTERNET
[post edited by Site Overlord]
Posted by: Robert | July 15, 2006 11:25 AM
whenever there is a problem player on a poker table and several people report them why isnt somethingdone about it
Posted by: ruth teseniar | June 4, 2007 5:06 PM
whenever there is a problem player on a poker table and several people report them why isnt somethingdone about it
Posted by: ruth teseniar | June 4, 2007 5:07 PM