It seems that German gamers are returning copies of Battlefield 3 to stores. They’re concerned that required download software Origin enables EA to spy on users’ activities. Eurogamer reports that German retailers Media Markt and Saturn are refunding used editions of Battlefield 3, even after their PC keys had been redeemed.
Things blew up when images surfaced online that appeared to show Origin accessing external programs and synched mobile phone data. The matter only worsened for EA after a newspaper ran a list of items from Origin’s license agreement that they said could violate German privacy law.
EA Germany has issued a response:
“We have updated the End User License Agreement of Origin, in the interests of our players to create more clarity. Origin is not spyware. Neither do we use nor install spyware on the PCs of users.”
“We do not have access to information such as pictures, documents or personal data, which have nothing to do with the execution of the Origin program on the system of the player, neither will they be collected by us. EA takes the privacy of its users very seriously. We have taken every precaution to protect the personal and anonymous user data collected.”
Yikes. Origin can’t catch a break lately.
