Ubisoft was complained in Austria for allegedly collecting unauthorized data in single -player games. The company may face a serious GDPR penalty.
The name behind giant series like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry Ubisoftin the center of a new scandal. The Austrian -based Data Protection Authority Noyb filed an official complaint, claiming that the company has collected data without the permission of the players. Especially in single -player games, the necessity of internet connection and the record of user data is accused of being contrary to the GDPR laws of the European Union.
It is claimed that Ubisoft has collected data even in single -player games
According to a statement by Noyb, Ubisoft forces users to be online even in games that do not require internet connection. Thanks to this necessity, data is systematically saved, such as players’ opening times, playing times and game closure times. Moreover, it is claimed that Ubisoft does not make a satisfying explanation even when users clearly request information about this data collection process.
According to Article 6 (1) of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a company must have a valid legal basis for personal data. Noyb argues that Ubisoft does not offer such a legal basis to collect these data. Lawyers say that this situation is not only violating user privacy, but also may mislead users about the real nature of the product.
If Noyb’s complaint is successful, Ubisoft may face a huge fine of about 92 million euros (about $ 104 million). The complaint also demands the deletion of all personal data collected without a valid legal basis. This may mean that Ubisoft makes radical changes in data management policies.
The company has not yet made an official statement. However, during this period, when data protection laws in Europe are increasingly implemented, Ubisoft is expected to take this complaint seriously. In the light of developments, it seems inevitable that users will demand a more transparent approach to data privacy and more strict arrangements against such practices in the game industry will come to the agenda. How Ubisoft will respond to these serious claims in the coming days.