By Jim Hu, 4 March 2004 09:05
NEWS A game distributed with new versions of AOL Instant Messenger does not respect users' privacy, critics say.
AOL began offering games along with the latest version of its instant messenger, and now some customers are worried that the company is playing with them, too.
People who use AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) have started complaining on AOL message boards after software bundled with AIM 5.5 began showing up in "spyware" scans. The popular chat application includes games from WildTangent, which has a tool that reports back to the company every time someone uses its products.
WildTangent chief executive Alex St. John denied that his company is doing anything improper. "It's not doing anything sneaky; it doesn't pop up anything," he said. "It tells us how popular a piece of content we release on the internet is."
Benign or not, the software and the controversy it has sparked highlight growing sensitivity among consumers over unexpected surprises accompanying free software downloads over the net - and the potential backlash facing companies that seek to quietly gather data on their customers.
Web surfers have zeroed in on concerns about spyware and its "adware" cousin, which is software that can lead to unwanted advertising pop-ups, changes in computer settings and other unexpected tweaks.
The issue has raised also significant questions about disclosure, with advertising and tracking features sometimes buried in lengthy licensing agreements, if they're mentioned at all. Some AIM 5.5 customers say they were surprised to discover that some of their activities are being tracked, and they criticised AOL for failing to better flag their practices.
One irate poster on an AIM message board wrote: "I realise most of the software we are talking about is free, but dammit, tell us up front what the software is going to do and let us decide before we install if we wish to comply."
Jim Hu writes for News.com
Comments
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1. Billy Bob
they are!!!!!!!!
2. Frank smith
What do you expect from AOL!
AOL users get all they deserve, and AOL know this.
3. peter stearn
I'm anable to check if MS Firewall is active on my AOL connection.
When using MS Windows XP facilities to check if the firewall on my AOL connection is active, for some reason I am prevented from doing so.
Go to Start/Control Panel/ Network Connections....
Is this a case of AOL taking over control of my PC?
Does anyone know what is going on?
4. anonymous
I have been a Compuserve user ever since they started business and they were EXCELLENT! - that is until AOL took them over an now Compuserve delivers the same pathetic unreliable service that AOL does. Spying? Well how about having an account that CANNOT receive messages addressed to more than one recipient - and Compuserve/AOL claim they are "trying to fix the fault" - since November 2003 - is the SMTP protocol some new leading edge technology that is bewildering the techs in AOL who can't fix a simple config problem in 5 months?