Valve starts censoring Steam private chat messages mentioning one particular "pirate" site

[qubit]

As if Big Brother wasn't censoring the internet enough around the world already in the name of profit, now Steam platform private chat messages mentioning kickass.to get disappeared. There's no notification of it either, it just goes down a black hole.

Steam users who want to discuss the latest news about the torrent site KickassTorrents may notice that their chats are censored. The popular instant messaging service is sending all mentions of the Kickass.to domain into a black hole, while warning that other torrent sites are potentially malicious.

TorrentFreak has full details.

 

[Maban]

But interestingly adding www. to it makes it unfiltered.

 

[TRWOV]

Well you're using their service and must adhere to their TOS. I'm sure there must be some provision for this.

Now, if your beef is with them monitoring "private" chats, those are "private" in the sense that no other user has access to them but you can bet that Valve (and any other online service with registered users) has unlimited access to your "private" data.

 

[Bansaku]

I bet the NSA has not only Steam monitored but every game they sell.

 

[newtekie1]

Steam has every right to censor any service they provide.

 

[erocker]

Steam has every right to censor any service they provide.

Indeed. They are a privately run company. If you don't care for having your words censored, communicate via a different means.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Balls to them ,there are other much better forum's right here.

 

[R-T-B]

Balls to them ,there are other much better forum's right here.

Torrent links aren't allowed here in general, or am I wrong?

 

[TRWOV]

Balls to them ,there are other much better forum's right here.

TPU has a similar TOS. Emphasis mine.

The providers ("we", "us", "our") of the service provided by this web site ("Service") are not responsible for any user-generated content and accounts ("Content"). Content submitted express the views of their author only.

You agree to not use the Service to submit or link to any Content which is defamatory, abusive, hateful, threatening, spam or spam-like, likely to offend, contains adult or objectionable content, contains personal information of others, risks copyright infringement, encourages unlawful activity, or otherwise violates any laws.

All Content you submit or upload may be reviewed by staff members. All Content you submit or upload may be sent to third-party verification services (including, but not limited to, spam prevention services). Do not submit any Content that you consider to be private or confidential.

We reserve the rights to remove or modify any Content submitted for any reason without explanation. Requests for Content to be removed or modified will be undertaken only at our discretion. We reserve the right to take action against any account with the Service at any time.

You are granting us with a non-exclusive, permanent, irrevocable, unlimited license to use, publish, or re-publish your Content in connection with the Service. You retain copyright over the Content.

These terms may be changed at any time without notice.

If you do not agree with these terms, please do not register or use this Service. If you wish to close your account, please contact us.

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/help/terms

In short, nothing on forums and such can be considered private since the site operators have unrestricted access to any content you post.

 

[1Kurgan1]

Steam has every right to censor any service they provide.

I don't think anyones arguing that they have the right. Thats not the question, the OP's poll is asking if it is right. And most people would say they don't feel it's right, but then again, who likes censorship?

 

[rtwjunkie]

TPU has a similar TOS. Emphasis mine.



http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/help/terms

In short, nothing on forums and such can be considered private since the site operators have unrestricted access to any content you post.

Very well said. And likewise, TPU being a private entity, could monitor PM's here should they wish to, I'm sure.

 

[erocker]

I don't think anyones arguing that they have the right. Thats not the question, the OP's poll is asking if it is right. And most people would say they don't feel it's right, but then again, who likes censorship?

Seems to me though, that what people feel about it is irrelevant.

Logically, how anyone other than Valve feels about it doesn't matter anyways. It's their property, they decide what to do with it, so I guess I feel it's right. Anyone who feels it isn't right either doesn't understand how private ownership works or their under the preconception that things online are private. They would be wrong.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

why isn't there an option in the poll "I dont care"

 

[rtwjunkie]

When you're on Steam, you are in their house, so to speak, so their rules have to be followed. If you come to my workplace or my home, you're expected to abide by the rules. So I don't see a problem with Valve's actions.

 

[qubit]

I don't think anyones arguing that they have the right. Thats not the question, the OP's poll is asking if it is right. And most people would say they don't feel it's right, but then again, who likes censorship?

Good point, got it in one!

 

[nolafotoknut]

If a user doesn't feel that it's right, don't use it. That's why terms and conditions exist...users agree to rules to use and if the don't, then they can't go any further. Most people agree without reading and then are offended because they broke a rule and were booted; ignorance is no defense...if you agree, it's assumed you understand and will abide by the rules. And really, online private messaging is an oxymoron.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I dont care - there are other messaging apps and shit where you can chat without being censored to make this one of those cases where you just

and move on. Is it a deal breaker? not in the slightest, and if youre mad because they censoring your chats then maybe you should download less warez and actually pay for games, movies & music for a change.

 

[OneMoar]

my the legal ass covering is everyware now
lulz I do love how everybody is so hush hush like people are doing something morally wrong ...
not sure why this is a big deal its not like everybody on the planet doesn't already know about kickass torrents or thepiratebay
steam is just covering there asses yes its censorship,yes its plain old stupid but whatever ...

 

[1Kurgan1]

Seems to me though, that what people feel about it is irrelevant.

Logically, how anyone other than Valve feels about it doesn't matter anyways. It's their property, they decide what to do with it, so I guess I feel it's right. Anyone who feels it isn't right either doesn't understand how private ownership works or their under the preconception that things online are private. They would be wrong.

If thats the case, then this entire forum is pointless. What we feel about anything is irrelevant and shouldn't be up for discussion. Logically, we are nothing in the big picture and our discussions on this forum are meaningless.

It's just something people are talking about, and I think people are getting a bit too crazy about a simple discussion. No one here can do shit about this, and I don't think anyone believes they can, we're just talking about it.

 

[brandonwh64]

This is not something new, facebook already blocks any torrent URL files from being sent to another member.

 

[AsRock]

Steam has every right to censor any service they provide.

Have the right yes, but that don't make it right.

 

[newtekie1]

I don't think anyones arguing that they have the right. Thats not the question, the OP's poll is asking if it is right. And most people would say they don't feel it's right, but then again, who likes censorship?

The is my point, Valve is who decides if its is right or not, and they have decided. Everything else is irrelevant.

 

[1Kurgan1]

The is my point, Valve is who decides if its is right or not, and they have decided. Everything else is irrelevant.

I love that you left out everything else I said. Thats the case with almost anything, these forums are irrelevant (lets go just posting that in every thread rather than being constructive).

 

[xfia]

get off our private messages

 

[FreedomEclipse]

get off our private messages

Time to uninstall steam? Because private messages arent 'private' as steam staff can most likely access your account, your chats and other messages should they need or want to