I have a question relating to privacy. Steam, GOG and Gamersgate have our real names, addresses etc. Are they allowed to give out this kind of information like candy to strangers?

GOG don't have your real name I think... besides your mail... i don't think they keep any other personal info.

GOG does not request your real name, as far as I remember.

Regarding your question: It depends on the law of the place where the company is seated, and on the terms of service that you agreed to. Why do you ask, do you have a specific situation in mind?

The only time I gave my gog my real name was when I was entering my CC information, but if they haven't stored my number I doubt they still have my name. Not sure about Steam or GG though

edit: I would go and check their TOS or Privacy policy

Yeah, GOG discards any and all information from the transactions. Nothing on their servers that could get hacked.

Steam, on the other hand, had problems with this and IMO shouldn't be trusted with that info.

They don't keep CC info :)

No specific situation. I just very much value privacy. So hoping, someone would enter this thread and tell me, I have nothing to worry about. :)

By they do you mean GG and Steam as well? Be a little more specific when you use the term "they" since I mentioned more than one service ;)

Don't worry, we already know everything about you... Max.

Heh, it would be awesome if I was guess right ;)

GOG only :)

You don't value your privacy?

PS
What happens if a company goes against their own privacy policy? Can you take action against them? Or is a privacy policy, nothing but words?

You should be more worried about the Einwohnermeldeamt, Standesamt, etc.
They are well known for selling your private data to organisations like the GEZ.

But to answer your question:
GOG does not store that data at all.

Steam does store the data (obvious if you must verify your account ownership) and: http://www.valvesoftware.com/privacy.html


The Gamersgate website does currently not load for me, but here is the privacy policy:

http://www.gamersgate.com/info/privacy-policy

EDIT: Now Gamersgate loads for me:

From what I understand, you can voluntarily give them information (what about when buying? I see nothing on that) and they more or less feel free to share it with third parties like Valve does, but also in addition to partners and affiliates. Happy spam!

I do. I just don't really think about it, and I'm generally not that active on the social networks.

If a company goes against their privacy policy, they could potentially face criminal charges (depending on the country) or civil lawsuit (depending on both the country and the people affected).

BUT if they state in the EULA/PPolicy that they can do whatever they damn-well please with your info, and they don't break a specific law against this kind of behaviour in their home country, then if you accept their EULA, you can't do a thing about it.

I just read the Gamersgate privacy policy but not sure if I really understand it.

Rohan15 is my other name.