Report: Blizzard Blizzcon APP is spyware(video)

Community General Discussion
1

Not my video but I thought it would be good to pass on to potential unaware users.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7YGrenehmQ

Reddit thread(courtesy of Nillah): https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/bkd5ew/you_need_to_have_a_phone_to_attend_blizzcon_this/emg38xv/

List of access:

Contacts:
read your contacts

Location:
approximate location (network-based)
precise location (GPS and network-based)

Camera:
take pictures and videos

Wi-Fi connection information:
view Wi-Fi connections

Other:
receive data from Internet
view network connections
pair with Bluetooth devices
full network access
prevent device from sleeping
view network connections
read battery statistics
pair with Bluetooth devices
access Bluetooth settings
full network access
run at startup
control vibration
prevent device from sleeping
modify system settings

122 Likes
2

The fine print on that app is pretty extraordinary. It would be a deal-breaker for me if I was planning to attend.

Here’s The Quartering’s take on it.

31 Likes
3

Don’t use it. Don’t go to Blizzcon. There you’re protected.

35 Likes
4

Honestly this makes me not want to support the company in any capacity. No subs, no gameplay time, nothing. This is beyond invasive, facebook style data gathering to sell. Disgusting.

67 Likes
5

Pathetic

Laws needs to come into place to make data stealing or sniffing illegal

69 Likes
6

The fact they would even think to do this period says a lot about where the company has headed and what they think of their customers.

75 Likes
7

Its not illegal if you agree to use it.

6 Likes
8

I looked into this a bit, and apparently it is what all Con apps do. :frowning: Not very cool and I hate that it is required for admission.

61 Likes
9

Plus after the 2017 blizzcon. They wow qna really sheded light on the current dev team

They dont care. I wont do another blizzcon thing again

32 Likes
10

Can’t disagree if they require it to attend after you’ve already paid for a ticket.

I usually buy virtual tickets but honestly i will never buy one again knowing they are hosing the people who spend hundreds just to be there in person.

7 Likes
11

Overall, I think technology has gotten a bit too invasive all around.

Sadly, this sort of thing is pervasive and we’re doing a bad job of telling tech companies “don’t do this.”

The EU made a start of policing this sort of thing, but we’re way behind the curve.

57 Likes
12

This is probably how they plan to make up lost revenue from in game stores, dropping subscriptions, and fewer game sales.

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13

You sure it wasnt part of the purchase agreement?

14

If the people of Earth actually cared about privacy I would agree with you. The majority don’t care as long as it brings them convenience. Do with it as you will.

Personally, if I was going to Blizzcon than I would just wipe my phone for the weekend and install the App. After the weekend was over, I can wipe the phone again and reinstall everything from a backup and not have shared much of any information with them. I would do the same thing if I was traveling internationally.

Or pick up one of those unlocked Android phones on Amazon for $50.00 and use it.

4 Likes
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@sorelai Doesn’t matter what people care or don’t care about, it doesn’t make it right and they shouldn’t be doing this. Blizzcon is basically paying to attend a giant ad reel as it is. Are ticket sales really not enough for these greedy people?

27 Likes
16

Just heard about this. Not a good look. Blizzard still apparently just doesn’t get why they’re losing subs. You’d think they’d learn after last year’s Blizzcon FAIL. If something like this is required for the virtual pass I will not be buying one this year.

This is totally unacceptable. Blizzard, you need to start doing better.

16 Likes
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Shouldn’t be required to spend even more money just to protect yourself from your data being sold off to unknown entities. This is wrong.

11 Likes
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Seems like a disgusting pratice for me.

But, I’m pretty neutral considering I don’t think I would ever attend a Blizzcon.
I’d be more interested to hear about people opinions that will/would attend Blizzcon. Because I think most people that go wouldn’t care much considering the invesment to get there.

6 Likes
19

Afaik this info just dropped today so it seems like this is after the fact. Regardless, it’s wrong.

3 Likes
20

For you it matters. For the people who bought the tickets and those complaining they didn’t get tickets, they probably don’t care as much.

Whether it is enough for greedy people or not, who is to say. The company is in it to make money. You have to decide whether to give them your money or not.

Don’t like the terms of attendance, don’t go. Problem solved for you.