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Plain-English summary
Blizzard's privacy policy includes several important points regarding data handling. Users should be aware that their personal information may be transferred and processed in other countries (risk_flags-1), and any continued use of Blizzard services implies acceptance of privacy policy changes, even material ones (risk_flags-2). Furthermore, voice communications within games may be monitored, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to detect toxic behavior or prevent fraud (risk_flags-3) and these transcriptions may be retained for investigations and sanctions (risk_flags-4). Devices may also be monitored for unauthorized programs (risk_flags-5). For esports participants, sensitive data such as racial origin or health information might be collected (risk_flags-6). Finally, records pertaining to account restrictions or penalties are permanently retained (data_use-2).
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Data transferred and processed in other countries
Personal information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries where Blizzard operates.
Why it matters: Your personal information may be subject to the laws of other countries, which might have different data protection regulations than your home country.
The personal information you provide may be transferred to, stored, and processed within the United States or other countries where Blizzard maintains facilities or business operations (see section 6 for more information).
Continued use of Blizzard websites signifies acknowledgment of privacy policy changes, even material ones, after they are posted.
Why it matters: You automatically agree to any changes, even material ones, if you continue to use Blizzard services after an update to the Privacy Policy is posted. You must actively check for changes.
Your continued use of the Blizzard websites will signify that you acknowledge these changes.
Voice communications may be monitored, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed
Blizzard may monitor and/or record voice chat communications to prevent cheating, fraud, and enforce the EULA, and these communications can be transcribed and analyzed for toxic behavior.
Why it matters: Your voice communications may be listened to, recorded, and analyzed, which could impact your privacy in communications within games.
By using the chat functionality and, when available, the voice chat functionality, you understand that Blizzard may monitor and/or record these communications to prevent cheating and fraud, or for enforcement of Blizzard’s End User Licence Agreement (EULA). Voice communication can be transcribed and analysed to detect toxic behaviour and conduct that disrupt or diminish the gaming experience for others.
Voice chat transcriptions retained to investigate and apply sanctions
Blizzard will temporarily retain voice recordings for investigation and transcription, and transcriptions will be retained to investigate cases and apply sanctions.
Why it matters: Your voice communications, once transcribed, can be kept for an extended period if they are used to investigate potential violations or apply sanctions against your account.
Blizzard will only retain the voice recording temporarily, no longer than necessary to investigate and transcribe it. Transcriptions will be retained to investigate the case and to apply sanctions, where necessary, in accordance with Blizzard’s EULA, before being deleted, except if we have a legal obligation to retain the transcription for longer.
Blizzard may monitor user devices for unauthorized programs
Blizzard may monitor your computer, console, or other device for signatures of unauthorized programs and communicate this information back to Blizzard to prevent cheating and fraud and enforce its EULA.
Why it matters: Blizzard can scan your devices for software it deems unauthorized, which could impact your system's privacy and potentially lead to account actions if unauthorized programs are detected.
Blizzard may also monitor your computer, console, or other device (including mobile device) used to access and play games for the signatures of unauthorised programs and communicate this information back to Blizzard about that unauthorised activity to prevent cheating and fraud, and to enforce our EULA.
Sensitive data may be collected from esports participants
Blizzard might collect sensitive data, such as racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or health information, from players participating in esports events.
Why it matters: If you participate in esports events, information about your racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or health may be collected.
We might collect some sensitive data typically from players who participate in our esports events to provide personalised care and assistance during competitions. Such information consisting of racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, genetic information, biometric information, information concerning health or information concerning a natural person's sex life or sexual orientation.
Information collected from third-party partners and public sites
Blizzard may combine personal information with data from third-party partners and vendors, such as Facebook, PlayStation, XBOX, Twitch, Instagram, and YouTube, to update contact information, perform market analysis, and improve products or services.
Why it matters: Information from your third-party accounts or public social media profiles may be used to augment your profile and for marketing analysis.
Blizzard may enhance or merge the personal information collected from Blizzard websites, applications, and our games with data from third-party partners and vendors, in order to update your contact information, perform market analysis, improve our products, services, or systems, or for other purposes described in this Privacy Policy. As such, we may receive information about you and your activities from third parties when you link your account with external accounts (such as Facebook, PlayStation, XBOX or Twitch) and from advertisers or service providers about your experiences or interactions with them.