IDSA Initiative Protects Gamers

Ever wonder how that personal data you send along to gaming companies upon electronic registration is used? Well, The Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), the trade association representing US video and PC game publishers wants to make it less of a mystery.

It announced today a set of guidelines already adopted by a slew of game publishers that will make it clear to gamers how personal information is used and also a set of protocols that will be followed before any request for information is asked of the gamer.

IDSA says key features of the guidelines include:

Consumer Access to Personal Data. The IDSA Guidelines call on each IDSA member to provide consumers with reasonable, appropriate opportunities to access, correct and amend information about them held by the IDSA member.

Privacy for Older Children. Congress recently enacted a law requiring operators of commercial Web sites to obtain parental consent before the online collection or use of personal information gathered online from children under the age of 13 years. The IDSA guidelines not only meet this requirement, but go further by requiring companies to proactively notify parents before the online collection or use of personal information gathered online from children older than 12 and under 18 years of age.

Effective Enforcement of Privacy Policies. The IDSA Guidelines establish explicit, effective procedures to ensure that IDSA members adhere to heir stated privacy policies. These procedures include detailed internal procedures to resolve consumer grievances, public disclosure by the IDSA of member implementation, and a requirement that IDSA members utilize a third party certification seal provider with arbitration or mediation capabilities.

The guidelines will take effect Feb. 28, 1999,and participants include Acclaim Entertainment, Crystal Dynamics, Electronic Arts, GT Interactive Software, Hasbro Interactive, LucasArts Entertainment Company, Nintendo of America, Sega of America, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. and THQ Inc.