Hello, this question has been asked on Steam several times but so far I have not seen a clear answer to this. If I turn off dynamic ads in the settings, will TSW2 still share data with Bidstack?
The better question might be why would they share data in the first place as this isn't targeted advertising.
The obvious answer is they share data to get paid, theres no point showing an advert in game and then not sharing that fact with the company which is paying you per view is there?
I don't think that is a "better" question. I don't care why they would share my data with Bidstack, I just want them to not do it.
If something is free, you are the product. I doubt DTG is paying those companies for having ads on the game. Data is very valuable these days, even if it seems innocent. Sadly Taschi I fear the only way you'd get an answer is by reading the privacy policy available here https://live.dovetailgames.com/legal/privacy-policy
Hmmm... I remeber Nat mentioning the privacy policy would be updated as soon as the updated was released... maybe it's still the old version or there is another document I am not aware of Taschi Could this be helpful? https://www.bidstack.com/privacy-policy/
straight after the update you got provided with a link to the new privacy policy when it asked if you wanted to enable dynamic adverts. Did you just click without actually reading it?
Have fun trying to find it - as far as I can tell, there is no way to review this after it has initially been shown to you. (As far as I know, that's a GDPR violation in its own right.)
Sorry I deleted my previous comment as I realised they are not on console yet I believe? So we didn't get that prompt. If they are I have selected to not take part by spamming as I don't see them on BKL nor any setting to activate them
Yes, because DTG chose to put that new privacy policy in the same place where they usually put ads for upcoming DLC, which is a fairly hostile bit of UX design in itself.
No they didn't the screen popped up and asked if you wanted dynamic adverts (admittedly it was defaulted to yes) with a link to the privacy policy update. The T&C's in game are present at the bottom of the screen as well. If you just clicked through without reading what you was agreeing to that's on you and you alone
Not trying to argue with that. Just stating that I don't believe this has happened on console (where I play) yet, and in fact I only saw stock billboards on SKA and BKL. That's why I was unaware of that.
No I dont think its on console yet and my reply was to Taschi who if they cared so much could log a support ticket and request a further copy of the privacy policy and explain that they failed to save a copy of the original provided.
DTG share information and data collected to third party partners and I don’t believe any player has the ability to choose individual third party partners that they don’t want data to go to. I think it’s largely irrelevant whether you turn the ads on or off, your data will be used by DTG any way they see fit (within what they say in their terms and conditions, privacy policy etc.). If you play the game you are giving consent for this, and if you don’t want your data sharing with other companies you need to not use the game or access the website or forum. Bidstack is one example where some players know the name of the company and what they do, there will be many other companies that DTG partner with that we as players have no idea about and they won’t be named specifically in any policy, just like Bidstack aren’t. Trying to prevent your data form being shared with just one company is likely to be futile as your data is shared in so many ways already, long before the in-game ads. If you have any genuine concerns about the use of your data then you need to contact DTG directly, not through the forums. It probably wouldn’t get you anywhere though.
However, in this case it simply can't work according to the way Facebook and Google/Youtube operate, where indeed the user is the product. Those function based on "clicks," and duly report back to their masters who clicked on what and everything the conniving little gnomes know about them. In this case, though, the adverts are passive: they are there to be seen in the route, but are not interactable, and so really are more akin to magazine or television adverts. DTG doubtless gets paid based on the number of players who drive a route in which a particular ad appears, but it tells Bidstack nothing except a raw number. In short, you compromise your privacy far more every time you watch a TSW YouTube video-- or if you are reading this using the Chrome browser.
There is no privacy on the internet any more. We are all known, identified and for sale. I once thought that avoiding social media, as I do, would give me a modicum of anonymity. But once you start posting on forums or click the " cookies" box on a website, all hope is gone. Most people don't give a hoot, according to most polls. So, your medical, financial and pretty much everything else is out there. Best not to worry. Or go live in the woods, stay off the internet, deal only in cash and have nothing to do with any government or commercial entities. Even then they'll find you eventually.
I bought TSW 2 on release day. At that time, the game did not include Bidstack. Saying that I have to accept that DTG just decided to harvest and sell my data two years later is a fairly anti-consumer stance, and I do not believe it is in line with the GDPR. But I will ask the question via support ticket, as it seems expecting DTG to actually be involved in their own forum may be a bit too much. I'd also like to point out that I asked a very simple question and any discussion on privacy and IT security in general is completely and utterly off-topic.
You think DTG don't have solicitors who advise on if what they are doing complies with GDPR? For someone who claims to value their privacy failure to read the updated privacy policy when it was thrust in your face the first time you logged in after the update seems pretty strange IMO. Any incase you've not realised it's a weekend and given that many of the team was at Ally Palace last weekend and there's evening streams this weekend I'm going to assume that most senior people at DTG aren't working today and given your accusations of breaking GDPR they probably want to be careful on how they respond to you including getting 2nd opinions etc.
I thought GDPR was about protecting the data when they have it (General Data Protection Regulation), not about them deciding to collect data. If you're really that concerned DTG are breaking the law (since this is apparently what this thread has become), have a read of this then make a complaint to them. https://ico.org.uk/for-organisation...-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/
Well, you're wrong then. The GDPR requires disclosure of which data is collected and processed by whom and for what purpose - in fact, that is one of its key principles. And currently, it seems to me that DTG does not fulfil their obligations in this regard. I made this thread because I had a question which I wanted answered, and reporting this to the authorities would not actually solve my problem in any way, but thanks for providing me the URL and implying that I'm too stupid to use a search engine. Two things: a) I didn't "log in", I just started the game. b) The privacy policy update was in exactly the same place where they usually put ads for upcoming DLC so of course I just clicked "Accept" on reflex. This is bad UX design. c) If you can't answer my INCREDIBLY SIMPLE question, could you maybe stop responding? You're wasting my time and yours. In fact, since you are apparently the type who actually saves a copy of every ToS and privacy policy they ever encounter, it should be trivially easy for you to check what it says in there. Several people in this thread have implied that asking this question on this forum is a waste of my time since DTG wouldn't see it anyway. I assumed these people knew what they were talking about. If you disagree with their assessment of DTG's responsiveness, please go harrass them instead of me. Incidentally, I do own a calendar and know how to read it. And I do not care if DTG takes two days to respond to me. Now please spare me your condescension, either answer the question in my first post or leave me alone. Given that you have so far done nothing but belittle me, I have no desire to communicate with you any more. And the same thing goes for everybody else - answer my question or don't, but stop wasting my time.
Okay, to answer your question without any further discussion on why or answer any of the further questions you have raised in response to other people’s responses… Yes. TSW2 will still share data with Bidstack if you turn off the ads. I don’t know whether it will share your data, but that isn’t in the simple question you asked…
I'm sorry, I'm just getting a bit on edge since I was not expecting people to get this offended at a very simple question. I'll probably just stop responding now, I've reached out to DTG via e-mail, repeated the question and notified them that I believe the current situation to be in violation of the GDPR and I do hope that they will remedy the situation in a timely manner. To be clear, when I accused DTG of GDPR violations, I do not believe that to be the result of malice but rather that of negligence, and I do not have any interest in suing DTG and / or notifing the authorities at this point. I simply expect them to provide the correct and up-to-date ToU/ToS/Privacy Policy in the appropriate places. (Incidentally, the ToU which are displayed in the Settings menu in-game do not do anything to answer my question. If they did, this thread would not exist.)
This whole conversation boils down to one thing, and that ISN'T whether DTG are sharing data with third parties. The question is whether the end user is identifiable AS A PERSON from the data being shared... So if DTG say "This advert was viewed 3110 times in the last week on BML" there's no impact on GDPR because it's not saying who you are in any way If they say "612 people in London got adverts last week", same thing If they said "The user with IP address 159.237.31.68 viewed your advert so we're going to send him more of them", then that would be identifiable to an end user and therefore GDPR applies. A username on a game is NOT counted as "personal information" unless there is a third party way of determining your real life identity from that, which to my knowledge there isn't unless you are using your real name as your ident in game
Hopefully this could be useful in case you don't get a satisfactory answer from DTG. From Bidstack's privacy policy: Rights You can exercise your rights by sending us an email at DPO@Bidstack.com. I. The right to access information we hold about you This includes the right to ask us supplementary information about: the categories of data we’re processing the purposes of data processing the categories of third parties to whom the data may be disclosed how long the data will be stored (or the criteria used to determine that period) your other rights regarding our use of your data We will provide you with the information within one month of your request, unless doing so would adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others (including another person’s confidentiality or intellectual property rights). We will let you know if we would be unable to meet your request for that reason. II. The right to make us correct any inaccurate personal data about you III. The right to object to us using your data for profiling you or making automated decisions about you We may use your data to determine whether we should let you know information that might be relevant to you (for example, tailoring emails to you based on your behaviour). IV. The right to port your data to another service If you ask us and it is technically possible, we will directly transfer the data to the other service for you. We will not do so to the extent that this involves disclosing data about any other individual. V. The right to be ‘forgotten’ by us You can do this by asking us to erase any personal data we hold about you, if it is no longer necessary for us to hold the data for purposes of your use of Bidstack. VI. The right to lodge a complaint regarding our use of your data Please let us know first, so we have a chance to address your concerns. If we fail in this, you can address any complaint to the ICO, either by calling their helpline or as directed on their website at www.ico.org.uk. VII. As a consumer of video games? If you wish to exercise your rights, please contact the relevant game publisher/developer. If you prefer, you can contact us at DPO@Bidstack.com, and we will pass the request on to our client or customer (please provide their name). https://www.bidstack.com/privacy-policy/
If only the privacy policy was easily obtainable online https://live.dovetailgames.com/legal/privacy-policy Its directly next to the customer support button you would have clicked to contact them Now if only there was a section in said privacy policy in relation to what information it shares with its advertisers.
This just reminded me that when I got that screen, absolutely nothing happened when I clicked on the DTG and Bidstack buttons. I ended up having to agree just to get into the game, but I did turn off the dynamic ads until I can check out the policies (and thanks to those who posted the links!). Did anyone else have that problem? I'm on PC/Steam btw.
I didnt have that issue to be honest and I would have expected the forums to be full of complaints if it was a global issue to be honest, assume it must have glitched for you. Oh is "Our advertisers" not sufficent for the OP, given that Bidstack is an advertiser. It would be a rather long document if it listed every single advertiser across every DTG product and website.
So it should not be defaulted to agree, that is indeed in breach of GDPR, it should be that you have to actively select agree, this is opt-in as opposed to opt-out. I can't remember if it was or not but it is worth checking as that would be wrong. https://ico.org.uk/for-organisation...ion-gdpr/lawful-basis-for-processing/consent/
if you have a GDPR concern they have 30 days to respond from when it’s highlighted to their Data protection officer.
Please consider this an unofficial piece of guidance regarding Bidstack and GDPR, as you should receive a full explanation from your ticket. As with every EULA or Privacy Policy the wording is designed to cover the maximums for potential data sharing. In the case of Bidstack I've been informed that as the ads shown are not targeted the data that is returned is in the form of number of exposures on a per platform, per region basis. There is no attached user information - such as a user ID number incorporated in the data. It is fully anonymous. Since these ads are not targeted we manually vet all incoming ad campaigns to ensure they are suitable for users of all ages. As such it is outside the coverage of GDPR since the data cannot be associated with an individual user - hence the ability to view real world ads in game being opt-out rather than opt-in. I checked this myself as I'd previously been responsible for GDPR at another company, and had similar concerns. What I don't know at this time, but will check on is whether a null or zero data package is sent to Bidstack in the event of the player being opted out. I wouldn't expect this to be the case but it's not unreasonable to ask the question.
The problem is the privacy policy is unreadable, because it is black text at a black screen. I created a technical report for this. Personally I really don't want any personalized advertisements and I do not want any personal data to be shared with third parties. The reason is that I do not appreciate if other people decide for me what would be a suitable offer. I prefer to decide it by myself.
No it isnt, clearly white screen with black text, if you have changed your browser setting to have a black screen then thats on you. If you had bothered actually reading it, then youd know DTG didnt share identifial data with third parties.
