Why use the AXS mobile app for Blizzcon when it's proven spyware?

Community General Discussion
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So to pick up your badge at blizzcon this year you’ll be forced to use the AXS mobile app, it looks like an authenticator app, provoking you with a barcode. However this is what it actually steals from you

Here’s a brief overview of all of the information that can be collected from just the mobile app alone, nearly all of which is shared with third parties without being anonymized or aggregated: first and last name, precise location (as determined by GPS, WiFi, and other means), how often the app is used, what content is viewed using the app, which ads are clicked, what purchases are made (and not made), a user’s personal advertising identifier, IP address, operating system, device make and model, billing address, credit card number, security code, mailing address, phone number, and email address, among many others.

So, yeah, while not directly Blizzard, they are choosing to use it despite what it does.

Edit: 1 Here is to who they share the data with, which WILL include Blizzard

AXS shares all of this information with a laundry list of advertisers, marketers, unknown “Clients,” and third party services. Including but not limited to: Google, DoubleClick Ads (which is the company responsible, in part, for most of the obnoxious banner ads around the web), Facebook, and basically whoever else the company feels like deserves this personal information. “We reserve the right to share your Personal Information with our current or future affiliated entities, subsidiaries, and parent companies,” says AXS’ privacy policy. “We may also share your Personal Information and other information with trusted third parties, such as our Partners, sponsors, or their affiliates and subsidiaries and other related entities for marketing, advertising, or other commercial purposes, and we may occasionally allow third parties to access certain Sites for marketing purposes.”

AXS also shares the personal data collected on its customers with event promoters and other clients, none of whom are bound even by this (extremely lax) privacy policy. From there, who’s to say where my data may go. All of this was almost certainly combined with the personal profiles that advertisers and data brokers like Facebook, Google, and others have already created about me, and used to further sharpen the algorithms that shape our digital existences.

So while I stated it’s NOT Blizzard that will actually be harvesting the data, they will be utilizing it without your consent

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Sounds like most mobile apps.

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Blizzard chose this specifically to gather your data, I suppose you could share with the board all the details that the app collects with GD?

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  1. It’s not spyware if the ToS tell you exactly what info the app gathers.
  2. Pretty much every app on your phone does the same thing.
  3. You are giving your consent when you download and install the app.
  4. This will have zero impact on Blizzcon ticket sales.
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I would go to the solutions desk to avoid the app, otherwise, maybe buy a burner phone for $100 then delete the app afterwards? On wiki, the people behind the app are an american ticket distribution company so I wouldn’t be too concerned.

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I hope this won’t be used in conjunction with the virtual pass also, if it is I will not be purchasing one this year. I would encourage people to call Blizzard out on this. Don’t support this. If you’ve already bought tickets, get a burner phone or something. Otherwise I’d boycott Blizzcon.

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Good lord, people will really complain about anything, wont they?

This is all typical mobile app stuff.

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Since you probably won’t be buying your virtual pass through AXS nor is there any need for a “Ticket” as it gets applied to your battle.net account, you probably won’t need the App. What purpose would it serve anyway? There is no one to verify your attendance on the virtual ticket.

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Yeah it sounds like stuff that Blizzard and every other mobile app already knows about me. Don’t completely understand the outrage here.

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Apps hand out your credit card info with pin number?

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LOL check out all the “It’s just what every other spyware app does, so what?”

Classic shills.

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if you want to go to blizzcon use a pre paid phone.

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Great, gotta get a burner phone to go to Blizzcon! I guess if you’re already spending 200+ to go, the cost of a burner phone isn’t that much more.

Does ActiBlizz have to try to be evil or does it just come naturally? :laughing:

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Not as far as this app goes. Not sure what app you are comparing it too. A reference point would be nice. Yes, a lot of apps are intrusive but this one takes the cake.

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lol

I think a company choosing to use an app that mines data for their own monetary gain and being concerned about who they choose the sell the data too is a SOMEWHAT telling sign about what type of business they run.

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Credit card info is where I draw the line. I dont use my card on my phone, this isnt normal mobile app stuff.

Come on, Blizzard.

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I was just about to post a very similar thing.

I feel like the “evil” here is something that’s pretty prevalent across the board these days. Big companies pretty much do whatever they can, regardless of ethical concerns, to make money until laws stop them. Then they use the money they made before the laws stopped them to get the laws changed. The future honestly looks kind of bleak for individuals.

In addition to the whole privacy issue, it sort of blows my mind that video game companies can release completely manufactured screenshots and videos prior to a game’s release, make wild, inaccurate promises about a game’s features, and face no consequences whatsoever when what they sell doesn’t resemble what they advertised.

Is oversight ever going to happen in the tech industry? Something really feels broken.

Edit:

Hello, brother.

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thats what it comes down to or they get all your information and sell it to china…lol.

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I can’t BELIEVE people are trying to defend this.

Sign of the times.

Blizzcons of the past didn’t use this, Blizzard SPECIFICALLY picked this app. If the selling of your personal data INCLUDING your credit card doesn’t bother you and you think this is simply an attack on the company because BFA sucks, then you’ve not only drank the kool-aid but have an IV drip going into you.

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let them defend it i cant wait to here the reeeees about it later after blizzcon.

i still say if you go get a pre paid phone.ill be watching the expansion announcement on twitch my self.

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