EA’s Origin sparks privacy concerns with gamers

Update: EA has apparently amended this EULA according to Twitter. You check out the amended agreement here.

In the extensive EULA for EA’s Origin content distribution service it was recently discovered that your personal information may be fair game for publisher.  A recent report from VG247 finds that in the information collection section of the agreement to use the service, users are required to allow EA to collect data and system information from you.  This would theoretically give EA the right to your computer and all its contents.  Here’s the excerpt in question from the contract, which has no opt-out clause.

2. Consent to Collection and Use of Data.
You agree that EA may collect, use, store and transmit technical and related information that identifies your computer (including the Internet Protocol Address), operating system, Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware, that may be gathered periodically to facilitate the provision of software updates, dynamically served content, product support and other services to you, including online services. EA may also use this information combined with personal information for marketing purposes and to improve our products and services. We may also share that data with our third party service providers in a form that does not personally identify you. IF YOU DO NOT WANT EA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE, TRANSMIT OR DISPLAY THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, PLEASE DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE APPLICATION.
This and all other data provided to EA and/or collected by EA in connection with your installation and use of this Application is collected, used, stored and transmitted in accordance with EA’s Privacy Policy located at www.ea.com. To the extent that anything in this section conflicts with the terms of EA’s Privacy Policy, the terms of the Privacy Policy shall control.

Similar clauses can be found in other online agreements, and the likelihood of a worst case scenario is minuscule, but not having an opt-out feature gives EA the power to do everything outlined in the contract.  The worst part about this, if you can’t get over the information collection clause is that you won’t be able to play Battlefield 3 this fall.