Sony Reserves Right To Spy On Gamers

October 21, 2008 - Can you hear me now? Good...because so can Sony. The electronics mega-giant released its new Terms of Service for the PlayStation Network (PSN) this week, and its one of the few times you may actually want to stop to read the fine print.

The new service agreement states that Sony is allowed to not only listen in but also record any activity that occurs through the PSN. But the Big Brother treatment doesn't stop there either. Any data collected during the monitoring sessions, such as the location of your activities, as well as your Online ID and IP addresses, can and will be used to enforce the rules and regulations stated in the service agreement.

[Lolliflop Lolliflop]

This will ensure Xturds in disguise are rooted out and sent back to their Sheds

[Shaka2K6]

.

[ruibing]

While I wouldn't go that far, I believe this is their way of ensuring user generated contents and social gaming stays fun and safe.

[ravinshield]

careful sony fangirls, you dont want to get caught talking to ur boyfriends online

[norkee]

With home creeping up on it's open beta, sony needs to be prepared to maintain the integrity of the experience. You don't want it to be ruined by the porn freaks, cheaters, and hackers.

[ThatCanadianGuy]

Exactly what i was thinking,smart move by Sony.I guess they thought it all out..

[comm13]

Also games such as LBP need that control, wouldn't want some a-hole to make inappropriate levels with their own pictures and so on (ex. a racist level).

[yamamoto114]

Supposedly, this control could be one of the trump cards PSN has over Xbox Live. Sure, Live is a great service, and I love it a lot, but it's not the service itself that's the problem, it's the people that use it. They ruin it for everyone else, and Microsoft doesn't really seem to do anything about it. This is a GOOD thing, PSN members, and it might possibly be the very thing that will push PSN forward into greater popularity.

You know, World of Warcraft does the same thing. Every message sent is logged, every account access is logged, everything is logged and monitored and stored. But the Blizzard employees NEVER look at the logs unless prompted to, such as when a player reports another player for rude behavior or racist remarks; the person could then go in, flip through the logs and see what's been said, then determine what the punishment, if any, should be.

I'm sure Sony's thinking of doing the same thing. The information only gets accessed when the need arises.

[JBaby343]

This will help maintain the quality of the service and I think it's a good thing. Well said by all of you. Bubbles.

[ajeben809]

im all for this. they can listen into my stuff whenever they want, it wont effect me, if it makes the PSN better moderated then go for it! actually glad they have these powers now

[ThanatosDMC]

Probably has to do with PSP also. PSP on PSN with new Terms of Agreement means no more custom firmware!

As long as it's for the gamer's best interests, then that's fine by me.

[robep3]

Hearing how some idiots behave on xbox live!!!!

Rob

[aceitman]

what xbox live is also doing to the service to stop all the people that want to ruin the online play because it got to the point where i dont want to hear anyone because of someone cursing people being rude because they cant play or someone is not as good as them or because of there ethnic background i welcome it with open arms to help make it a better experience down with the haters and bring on the gamers who want to have fun and get pawned or do the pawning

[Dino]

but so are the safety nets to keep freaks and a-holes from ruining our online experiences(cheaters,pedophile s so on and so forth). If your not up to no good you shouldn't worry. It's when they tap my phone I'll cry foul.

[Raoh]

it's not a big deal, its natural progression of business and protection of said business..

before the sony haters jump on this article

microsoft too was just granted a patent that allowed it to monitor your conversations and bleep/replace your words with their own words or sound effects.. the article is posted here on n4g somewhere..

google and other companies are all doing it

not only is big brother a reality its enevitable..

but.. if your not doing anything wrong or harassing people.. you have nothing to worry about

[Cenobia]

I like it when they watch....

>=D

[Lord Shuhei Yoshida]

We are watching you xbots.Your time is up.Surrender now.

[CertifiedGamer]

I shouldn't have said I have a trillion dollars from the loop hole in the goverment.
I have bin ladin hidden chillin with tupac shakur in my u.s. basement.
I should have defently not have said I have aliens teaching me how to rule the world damn thanks ps3 now the fbi is in my ass because I also have jesus christ teaching about the next testament in the bible. damn lol but seriously I don't give a crap.

[Lord Shuhei Yoshida]

Interesting.It turns out that Janis Joplin and JFK are still alive and live in Scotland operating a fried chicken joint.

[ChrisGTR1]

i guess this has to do with all the laws bush passed about "terrorism"? wiretapping and what not.

[name]

The law you're talking about is the "Patriot Act". Which allows the government to violate several(any) constitutional right for the "well being" of the country. Companies monitoring people using their service has never been seen as unconstitutional. Even without the Patriot Act being in effect there have been plenty of cities which have violated the rights of its citizens, whether it be due to the "rise of crime" or trying to catch some random criminal. Makes things easier on police, while completely taking away the freedom of fully grown adults who have to live in those areas. All of it is a bunch of BS to me though. This case is nothing like it though.

[Thoas]

Its there right.

[Varmint]

But if this means the PSN service is made better by a couple security measures (which probably amount to nothing for the average user unless they're violating the agreement), then I'm all for it!

[comm13]

Please enlighten me, how is it scary?

Unless you have some questionable content on your ps3 or try to cause harm to other people on the network, you do not have to worry.

The govn't can rape you up the ass and you wouldn't be able to do anythign about it, that is scar.

[Varmint]

No, don't take my title too literally... the question mark in there was because I don't really believe it's that scary. I just find that a big news thing about it rather amusing, 'cause someone out there must think so. The only questionable content on my PS3 is a picture that happens to have my face somewhere in it. If my screen were glass, it'd probably shatter ;)

[darkdoom3000]

meh. i think this is going to be used for home. and possibly suspending ppls accounts who have pirated stuff (PSP) maby?

[psiom]

Does this mean PSN could potentially be protected from the verbal abuse on XBL? That would be cool.

Normally I'd be 100% against spying and recording, but this is a Sony service. It's not public activity, nor is it related to private life or anything else important.

If they do something sinister with it however I'll change my tune.

[Cliff Bull-Shit-ski]

step 1-Join a Halo 3 matchmaking lobby

step 2-listen to 12 year- olds scream and sing

step 3-have the 12 year-olds t-bag you for no reason

step 4-wether you beat them or not, the 12 year-olds say "Pwned! You got pwned! LALALABLAHBLAH*SING*SCREAM*SIN G*

step 5-report them

step 6-oh wait there is no step 6 cus MS doesn't do sh!t!

I've been suspended for doing NOTHING WRONG cus mu friends mess with me and put in bogus reports. When I report someone for actually doing something wrong nothing ever happens! I look at my recently met list and see they're still on day-after-day!

[hotrider12]

well, at lease on psn it wont be like xboxlive with all kind of ignorant foul usage of words. and MS is only doing this probaly found out sony is doing it and playing catch-up. I bet you if sony was not doing this MS probaly would not.

[MvmntInGrn]

Its because of HOME.

As long as you keep it legal in HOME you have no worries, if you didn't know any MMO can do this too.

Lets not blow things up.

[JBaby343]

No one should make a big deal of this. If anything it will help the service, not hurt it.

[ChrisGTR1]

whats the point to this? people dont even have mics on ps3.

[JBaby343]

All the others on my friends list have one too with the exception of one.

Care to restate?

[darkdoom3000]

lol. dr phill and his crazy conclusions.

you can use mics on the ps3! in fact you can just pick up nearly any USB or bluetooth headset and use it!

now you can go back to your little fanboy clubhouse and tell 'the mart' and 'pog' you learned something new today!

[Varmint]

The majority of people I have met/played games with on PSN do not have microphones. I myself only make friends with people that have them, so of course all of the people on my friends list will have microphones. That doesn't necessarily mean that all PS3 owners have them, just ones on my friends list, and obviously on other people's.

[FailStation3]

Sony is an evil corporation.

[Strife Lives]

Sony and Msft would like our age,sex,race and income before we make our purchase.

[aceitman]

will may be the one that acts like afool and ruins everyones fun it has nothing to do with age sex or social #its to manage online activity to keep it safe

[hotrider12]

from agent_plang
If they do something sinister with it however I'll change my tune.

if they did we would not know about it even if we did what could we do?? but cancel our subscription. Im sure sony only looking for those who can't control their mouth,and discontinue there services.

[macalatus]

Before anyone else bashes Sony, please ask yourself seriously if MS doesn't do the same thing.

[FernandoMartinez]

It was a logical step. I for one would think that this was in the original Terms of Service but if it wasn't it's understandable why it is now. With the comming of Home and LBP and perhaps in the future other platforms that allow user created content, some of it could be illegal. In LBP you can take photos with you PS Eye and put them in the game and share them with other people. Imagine some jerk distributing child pornographiy this way... This perhaps is an extreme example but they have to be prepared for everything. I think the new ToS is mostly about copyrights, so you wouldnt share copyrighted material in LBP, Home or wherever.

[Shadowstar]

I find it creepy. But it's not going to stop me from being on their service, just from talking to family and friends on it. I make inappropriate jokes with people I know IRL, and I certainly don't want them recording me and sending my silly jokes to homeland security. Hm. But then, I've heard the US government is listening in on everything anyways.

Creepy world we live in. :(

[Sez]

guess sony hasn't learned anything from the rootkit law-suit. well lets see how this goes.

[madefade]

IMO its a load of bullcrap..its not enough we buy there sh"t*y console they have to spy on us to? hope they listen in to me i tell em a few things!

Hotrider you must live under a rock if you think psn is any better then xbl on both console there is people talking crap.. just last night we had to listen to the o so great americans waffle on about there o so cool smack talk!

[pixelsword]

I won't use the mics to talk much, because I don't know how far any personal information will go.

I won't browse the net for sure.

And I can't begin to tell you what's wrong about collecting my IP and location to enforce PSN rules. What, I can't play my Playstaion in some places? That's beyond disturbing.

[Jacobite]

lol better stop watching Porn them, dam back to the PC again. Then again if it stops those annoying kids making weird noises talking crap for the sake of it (you know who you are gggrrr lol)If your just playing Games as a gamer and not abusing folk or looking up Bomb making for the young misguided fool should be nothing to worry about them lol last famous words

[cliffbo]

so much negative news, it must mean Sony are about to release a major game! it always happens

[Coke-a-Cola]

.

[Jacobite]

Yeah keep them on XBL lol (only kidding)

[TerrorJ]

No more getting freaky on video chat? I don't what all of that being monitored. Bummer.

[JasonX43]

It means that Home won't be overran by all the teenagers and kids that think their grown because they know a few curse words... like XBox Live!

[DarkBlood]

you mean gansta teenagers and little kids that are heavely influenced

i hate it when they do stuff n saying they are better then you n all

down with discrimination it sucks

[DarkBlood]

but personally im can't wait for littlebigplanet because im gonig to create legend of dragoon levels with the music from the game and sony owns the game and can sell the level for all i care because i hope they eventually remake the game and make prequal and a sequal as well id make a bunch of levels just to help them make the money

that thoughi never personally been online i only ask my parent to sign up for an account so i could download demos n stuff thats it i wont be buying or that kind of stuff till i turn 18 till feburaryso i can start my own account and get my own stuff and feel like i own it using my own account

[hotrider12]

@madefade
dude I was not saying pns is better than xboxlive all I was saying this article is base on abusive smack talk on xboxlive and microsoft is finally doing something about it. so at lease they are admiting to it.
and no, I dont live under a rock I dont do my gaming online. dont need to I play all my ps3 games with my buddies either my place or they're place.

Hotrider you must live under a rock if you think psn is any better then xbl on both console there is people talking crap.. just last night we had to listen to the o so great americans waffle on about there o so cool smack talk!