Once Human's Privacy Policy Sparks Concern
Once Human, a new Free-to-play survival game, has quickly become popular on Steam, but its privacy policy has caused a stir among players. Many are questioning how the developers, Starry Studio, are making money while offering the game for free. While microtransactions, battle passes, and even ads are common in free-to-play games, some Once Human players are worried about something more sinister.
What are players worried about?
On the Once Human Steam page, the game currently has a "Mixed" review score. Players are voicing their concerns about the game's terms of service, specifically pointing to potential security threats. Some users have claimed that publisher Netease has a system that lets Once Human mine Bitcoin using players' computers. Others fear that their privacy could be compromised due to the privacy policy, which grants NetEase access to sensitive information like government-issued IDs, phone numbers, and credit card details.
Is Once Human a Security Threat?
Netease has addressed these concerns in an official statement on the game's Discord server. They stated that they prioritize user data privacy and follow data privacy principles like data minimization, purpose limitation, and transparency. They explained that they only collect government-issued IDs for specific reasons:
- When required by local laws for certain promotions
- To verify a parent's identity to obtain consent for their child (as required by child protection laws)
- When a user wishes to correct their age information, if required by law
NetEase also mentioned that they may occasionally request optional information like social media handles, names, and gender through user surveys. While the concerns regarding the terms of service and data collection are valid, there is currently no evidence to support the claims about Once Human mining Bitcoin with players' computers. These claims seem to be unsubstantiated rumors.
Is Once Human's Privacy Policy Out of Line?
It's important to remember that while Once Human's privacy policy and data collection practices might sound alarming, they are not unusual in the gaming industry. Many popular AAA games and studios collect large amounts of user data. Examples include Call of Duty, Pokémon Go, Candy Crush, and even The Elder Scrolls Online. In fact, most Free-to-play games have privacy policies that allow them to gather user data, including detailed information like social security numbers and personal identification cards.
Despite the Controversy, Once Human is Thriving
Despite the controversy surrounding the privacy policy, Once Human is still a hit on Steam. Just a few days after its launch, it already has over 95,000 active players and the reviews are trending positive. The game's success shows that players are still eager for Survival Games, following the popularity of Palworld earlier in 2024.
In conclusion, while the concerns regarding Once Human's privacy policy are valid and should be taken seriously, they are not unique to this game. It's crucial for players to be informed and read the terms of service before playing any game. This helps ensure you understand how your data is used and what information you are sharing.
