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I don't know about the legality of this. Could someone versed in EU law chime in? I know the EU has data protection directives that protect sensitive information such as names. It does allow for consent as an exception though. But then again consent as legally understood means more than just saying yes. Also if posting on the bnet forums is part of the package of services you buy when you pay your subscription, wouldn't requiring real names to post the forum be a liability on people trying to use a service they are entitled to (by virtue of subscription purchase)? And wouldn't this liability be disproportionate and thus breach principles of proportionality in EU law, since reduction of trolling can be done via more moderation or post grading, both of which being less onerous?
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On July 07 2010 10:06 kajeus wrote:Show nested quote +On July 07 2010 10:04 travis wrote:On July 07 2010 09:58 Random() wrote: I don't get it. You happily dump all your private information to public sites like Facebook, and then whine that someone is able to find that info using your name? except i don't jesus people.. Then what are people going to find out about you through Google? :D Your address, maybe; your phone number, maybe -- but nothing more complicated that a phone book search would tell you. OMG you just don't get it do you?!!? I just don't want my personal info available on the internet, EVER! You say its just the name, then another gaming company releases just the addres then another releases just your gender, then its just you sexual orientation then its just.... see the point?!
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that's pretty ridiculous, I don't agree with the change. Not that I posted under b.net forums anyway
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On July 07 2010 09:58 Random() wrote: I don't get it. You happily dump all your private information to public sites like Facebook, and then whine that someone is able to find that info using your name?
Believe it or not, there's a large portion of the population that does in fact not have a facebook account.
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It is not illegal since it will be up to you whether you post on these forums or not.
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On July 07 2010 10:05 miltondtf wrote:Show nested quote +On July 07 2010 09:59 Alsn wrote:Disclaimer: IANAL. I'm actually pretty sure it would be illegal for blizzard to publicly display my real name according to swedish law(for anyone interested in reading and being proficient in the Swedish language, check the following link). Basically, your real name is regarded as sensitive private information and cannot be displayed without your express permission, and having no option of not displaying it when trying to get tech support on their forum would probably constitute a breach of that law. Even if they did include some clause that said "if you post on this forum, you approve of us displaying your real name" I'm not entirely sure something like that would stand up in Swedish court as EULAs are far less binding around here than in the US. To all you people defending this move, what god given right do you have to speak for everyone else? You may be fine with this, that doesn't mean everyone else has to be. Saying posting on the forums is optional isn't good enough when things like tech support are included in this supposed "optional feature". They haven't announced it on European forums yet but like you I see even a bigger shitstorm coming if this goes forward this is the kind of stuff that can get to the European parlament... Remember wen internet providers wanted to associate individuals to illegal downloads?
You are on actual crack right? You think that making people stand by posts on a forum with their real name is anything like associating specific people to illegal downloads? Really...?
This is a huge shitstorm in a teacup.
If you are too scared to stand by something you say with your real name (not exactly a unique identifier) then I suggest that what you wanted to post was useless flamebait or similar. Man up.
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I love the irony of that site requiring you to post your real name, country of residence and e-mail. 
Sent a tip with a made up name and a spam-mail account. ~~
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On July 07 2010 10:15 Alsn wrote:I love the irony of that site requiring you to post your real name, country of residence and e-mail.  Sent a tip with a made up name and a spam-mail account. ~~
I tried and I got some error.
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On July 07 2010 10:09 travis wrote:Show nested quote +On July 07 2010 10:06 kajeus wrote:On July 07 2010 10:04 travis wrote:On July 07 2010 09:58 Random() wrote: I don't get it. You happily dump all your private information to public sites like Facebook, and then whine that someone is able to find that info using your name? except i don't jesus people.. Then what are people going to find out about you through Google? :D Your address, maybe; your phone number, maybe -- but nothing more complicated that a phone book search would tell you. .. which they couldn't do IF I DIDNT HAVE TO POST MY NAMEhonestly, you just made my point for me. congratulations. I guess it is a scary world out here, Travis Black, age 25, of Klamath Falls, Oregon...
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On July 07 2010 10:14 Ikkath wrote:Show nested quote +On July 07 2010 10:05 miltondtf wrote:On July 07 2010 09:59 Alsn wrote:Disclaimer: IANAL. I'm actually pretty sure it would be illegal for blizzard to publicly display my real name according to swedish law(for anyone interested in reading and being proficient in the Swedish language, check the following link). Basically, your real name is regarded as sensitive private information and cannot be displayed without your express permission, and having no option of not displaying it when trying to get tech support on their forum would probably constitute a breach of that law. Even if they did include some clause that said "if you post on this forum, you approve of us displaying your real name" I'm not entirely sure something like that would stand up in Swedish court as EULAs are far less binding around here than in the US. To all you people defending this move, what god given right do you have to speak for everyone else? You may be fine with this, that doesn't mean everyone else has to be. Saying posting on the forums is optional isn't good enough when things like tech support are included in this supposed "optional feature". They haven't announced it on European forums yet but like you I see even a bigger shitstorm coming if this goes forward this is the kind of stuff that can get to the European parlament... Remember wen internet providers wanted to associate individuals to illegal downloads? You are on actual crack right? You think that making people stand by posts on a forum with their real name is anything like associating specific people to illegal downloads? Really...? This is a huge shitstorm in a teacup. If you are too scared to stand by something you say with your real name (not exactly a unique identifier) then I suggest that what you wanted to post was useless flamebait or similar. Man up.
I'd just point out that the EU directive on data protection has a bunch of provisions that may or may not apply to what blizzard is doing. So I would not think it far fetched that the EU parliament might end up discussing this should there be enough public concern.
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On July 07 2010 10:15 Alsn wrote:I love the irony of that site requiring you to post your real name, country of residence and e-mail.  Sent a tip with a made up name and a spam-mail account. ~~
"First Name" 
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On July 07 2010 10:14 Ikkath wrote:Show nested quote +On July 07 2010 10:05 miltondtf wrote:On July 07 2010 09:59 Alsn wrote:Disclaimer: IANAL. I'm actually pretty sure it would be illegal for blizzard to publicly display my real name according to swedish law(for anyone interested in reading and being proficient in the Swedish language, check the following link). Basically, your real name is regarded as sensitive private information and cannot be displayed without your express permission, and having no option of not displaying it when trying to get tech support on their forum would probably constitute a breach of that law. Even if they did include some clause that said "if you post on this forum, you approve of us displaying your real name" I'm not entirely sure something like that would stand up in Swedish court as EULAs are far less binding around here than in the US. To all you people defending this move, what god given right do you have to speak for everyone else? You may be fine with this, that doesn't mean everyone else has to be. Saying posting on the forums is optional isn't good enough when things like tech support are included in this supposed "optional feature". They haven't announced it on European forums yet but like you I see even a bigger shitstorm coming if this goes forward this is the kind of stuff that can get to the European parlament... Remember wen internet providers wanted to associate individuals to illegal downloads? You are on actual crack right? You think that making people stand by posts on a forum with their real name is anything like associating specific people to illegal downloads? Really...? This is a huge shitstorm in a teacup. If you are too scared to stand by something you say with your real name (not exactly a unique identifier) then I suggest that what you wanted to post was useless flamebait or similar. Man up. (Bolded by me for emphasis) Yes, because anonymity is a privilege, not a right...
The fact that you can contact a journalist *anonymously* when you want to raise a concern is just a privilege? Sites like wikileaks not revealing their sources should then not be commended? O_o
There are a lot of things that are "not a big deal" in this world, a regular Joe's privacy is not one of these things, no matter how insignificant you people on your high horses seem to think it is.
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I am reminded of this quote from Activision from their Annual Investment Report this past year, that now seems rather prescient:
“We are subject to risks associated with the collaborative online features in our games, such as World of Warcraft’s online chat feature, which allows consumers to post narrative comment, in real time, that is visible to other players. Despite our efforts to restrict inappropriate consumer content, from time to time objectionable and offensive consumer content may be posted to a World of Warcraft gaming site or the sites of other games or game services, such as Battle.net, with online chat features or game forums which allow consumers to post comments. We may be subject to lawsuits, governmental regulation or restrictions, and consumer backlash (including decreased sales and harmed reputation), as a result of consumers posting offensive content, any of which could harm our operating results.”
Credit where due, Hadraziel posted this quote back when we were discussing chat channels here: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=128014¤tpage=89#1767
I think we now know why they were so reluctant with chat rooms, and now want to put everyone's real name on posts.
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Thinking about it for a few minutes the only issue I can see is that women will get harassed by all the pubescent male idiots.
Depending on how women in general react to that kind of idiocy I would suggest this problem alone might be enough to sink the idea - especially if the games industry is serious on not looking like a sausage party.
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On July 07 2010 10:13 Backpack wrote: It is not illegal since it will be up to you whether you post on these forums or not.
I could see some civil suits going down after the first parent gets shivved because their kid rolled on some guys cloudsong and was tracked down through a post the kid made on the tech support forums.
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next up: city, address and phone to be displayed
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i guess were gona be liable for anything we say, including if someone else accesses ur account n posts inappropriately.
im comfortable flaming/trolling bnet forums w/ my real name tho, so i guess it wont stop all of us.
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