Data privacy and regulations in digital gaming: why it all matters
Chances are that you regularly use apps and sites and play games that request a fair amount of private data from you. Since the dawn of social media, service in return for private information has become pretty commonplace. Thankfully, however, there are regulations and compliance standards that providers need to stick to if they want to legally offer their services.
Data privacy and regulations have become a major point of concern for gamers over the years. The days of flashy marketing aren’t quite behind us, but more of us are getting savvier about the services and experiences we’re getting into. As such, transparency becomes the primary metric for consumer trust. For example, if you’re looking for a reputable and safe online casino, it’s a common rule to look at how the service protects your data and your money as a priority.
Let’s take a closer look at why choosing platforms and games based on compliance, rather than marketing spiel, has become such a big deal.
Data privacy
There have been more than a few scandals and stumbles made by digital platforms over the years that have exposed just how much information is held on us, and what’s at stake. The Cambridge Analytica scandal, for example, was a pivotal learning point for millions of us using Facebook. The long and the short of this scandal was that millions of users’ data were harvested and sold on without their consent.
In the decade since, people have become savvier about looking into exactly what platforms, apps and games intend to do with the data that we share with them. While the EU has rolled out the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to bolster the rights of millions (and you can’t get past a legitimate website nowadays unless you agree to cookie policies and how data is used), users and gamers have grown up accustomed to being wary about their data privacy.
Ultimately, we want transparency offered as a priority. We’re used to the idea that our information will be stored and processed to some extent so that we can use services and play games. However, we need the reassurance that we won’t be tracked, have data sold on, or get pestered by third parties unless we absolutely want to.
In some cases, this does mean that our hands are tied. Some apps and services will need to track you (when using them) to offer complete functionality. However, you shouldn’t have to hand over your full name, email, payment information or otherwise unless there’s a legitimate reason behind the request.
Why digital entertainment providers need to prioritise transparency
The threat of lawsuits and compliance auditors breathing down their necks is no longer the sole reason why gaming and entertainment providers need to worry about keeping data policies transparent. It’s now a critical factor in whether people choose to download, play, or get involved at all.
And yet reports from only a short time ago warned that as many as nine out of 10 mobile games were failing to meet compliance standards, effectively ignoring user privacy expectations. Although not everyone will read reams of terms and conditions before playing, the digital landscape is now so vast and prevalent, and the idea of data theft is so recognisable, that platforms have to be open about what they do with information if they want to build user bases.
Vibrant marketing does still work to a degree. However, ‘the catch’ needs to be painfully obvious, or at least readily offered, to hook long-term, engaged users. The biggest games yet to come this year will likely all have long, sprawling data processing terms for any online services tied in – but they’re there to assure people and to keep them playing, as much as they are to protect them.
The importance of understanding data terms in apps and games
Being lazy about checking compliance standards and reading data privacy terms is never a good thing. Although you might be accustomed to the idea that your data is currency in the modern age, you should always read the fine print and do your research before signing up for anything. After all, just because a service is transparent about how it uses your data, it doesn’t mean that you’ll automatically agree with its terms!
Keep an eye on the compliance and data privacy rules that your favourite games and apps set – and don’t be afraid to step away if you’re left feeling wary.
