By using Valve's online sites, products, and services, users agree that Valve may collect personally identifiable information (as defined below). Valve will not share personally identifiable information with other parties except as described in this policy. Valve may also collect aggregate information and individual information. "Aggregate information" is information that describes the habits, usage patterns, and demographics of users as a group but does not describe or reveal the identity of any particular user. "Individual information" is information about a user or user’s machine that is presented in a form distinguishable from information relating to other users but not in a form that personally identifies any user or enables the recipient to communicate directly with any user. Valve may share aggregate and individual information with other parties without restriction.
So Steam has been added to (or was already on) the vast list of companies that trade in statistical information on customer behaviour, in an attempt to better tweak their products to the customers' wishes, resulting in better sales.
Doesn't bother me, I nearly aways click the allow button when something asks to collect usage information, as it helps them improve the product and as such gives me a better product as a result. This sort of thing will largely be given or sold to developers to better target and tweak there games, and I'm not going to complain about getting better games.
This is all none personally identifiable information, meaning it doesn't track back to you, or comprises your privacy in any way, and really how many of you click the take part button when the hardware survey comes around, its the same thing.
It comes down to trust for me. I trust Gabe more than EA. Therefore if this was the agreement to Origin (which I won't use) then I would not accept it.
It comes down to trust for me. I trust Gabe more than EA. Therefore if this was the agreement to Origin (which I won't use) then I would not accept it.
Here here!
Ignoring the fact that I have a lot invested in Steam and that it's where I keep my entire library, they've been around long enough and have a strong enough track record that I trust them not to do something foolish or selfish. Don't get me wrong, Steam isn't perfect. But in the world of technology, you're always having to choose the least of the evils. And Valve is about as far from evil as the best of them.
