DeviantART Has no Privacy Policy (dA members should read this)

aceman67 · Dec 09, 2005, 08:47 PM

This is very very disturbing for me, since I've been a member of DeviantART for over 3 years (I joined November 28th, 2002).

http://jark.deviantart.com/journal/7267664

Quote:

Did you realize that deviantART lacks a privacy policy? No magically morbid legalese; no simplistic layman terminology; nothing. Simply put, there is no written document that covers how deviantART, Inc. handles the personal information it collects from deviants.

It is something that I attempted to work on during my tenure on staff. Repeatedly I was told that “the lawyers are working on it.” This is generally a code-word for, “this is not high on our priority list so I will placate.” Each and every time I attempted to work the privacy policy issue I was railroaded by management. Why?

Privacy is important so I feel that it is necessary to commence dialogue on this issue; it has been ignored long enough.

Do you know what a privacy policy is? If not then I suggest that you read this document in order to get a better understanding of what a privacy policy is.

Here are some examples of privacy policies, both in and out of the community:

Why does deviantART, a website that is ranked within the top 500 most trafficked websites on the Internet, not have a privacy policy? Why does deviantART not offer the same level of privacy protection that we have come to expect at other sites? Both more and less popular sites alike have simple privacy policies that outline what can, and can not, be done with the information they gather from you and your activities at that site.

Here is some good information regarding privacy policies and the websites you visit. Interestingly enough it appears that deviantART, Inc. may be in violation of, at least, a California online privacy protection law by not posting a privacy policy at all. Since both California residents visit deviantART, and because deviantART, Inc.’s headquarters are based there, then this is a major issue. The full text of the law is an interesting read.

What does the lack of a privacy policy mean? It can mean any of a number of evil things. In the most basic sense, deviantART, Inc. is essentially free to do whatever it so desires with each and every ounce of data that it collects from the deviants.

This does not mean that they can take your art and do with it as they please; what they are legally allowed to do with your submissions is covered by the submission agreement.

Personally identifiable information such as your full name, email address, mailing address, gender, location, and other facts that may be used to identify you, could be sold to a marketing firm among other more sinister deeds. No legal covenant has been executed that forbids deviantART from reading private notes between deviants; nothing in places prohibits the staff from altering public and private comments, journals and other interactivity.

Since deviantART, Inc. records all interactivity that takes place on the site they have an easy way of outlining your entire deviant history. If the government, law enforcement or just a lawyer with a simple legal document were to ask for a copy of that information then deviantART, Inc. may very well turn that over. They are not obligated to keep any information private since they have not entered in to a privacy agreement with you.

There is absolutely no mechanism in place to keep deviantART, Inc. from giving away your personal information or the interactivity that you have engaged in on deviantART. In short, anything and everything that you do on deviantART may very well be sold for profit or used against you, for whatever reason, at the sole discretion of management.

So many scenarios exist regarding how, and why, deviantART could be placed in a position where they are asked to turn this type of information over that I will not even begin to explore that area. They range from the obscure to the conspiracy-theory-like to just simple, everyday things.

A website as large and popular as deviantART demands a privacy policy. It is imperative that one exist. Imagine if Google, Yahoo! or Hotmail lacked something as basic as a privacy policy. Nothing would stop their employees from reading your email! Would you use their services if they had the option of doing that?

Tell the management of deviantART, Inc. that you require a privacy policy be put in place immediately. Explain to them that if this does not happen in a timely manner then you will take your business elsewhere and will discontinue any, and all, interactivity until then.

Privacy is paramount. Just because they say that they will never do anything threatening does not mean they will follow through with that promise. Protect yourself in the interim and insist that deviantART, Inc. start acting like a responsible business.

Take action and safeguard yourself.

Its not going to stop me from using dA, I've invested too much time and money there to just leave, but this did give me pause.

*Zdenek* · Dec 10, 2005, 02:40 AM

In America, laws are probably more important. But

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4chan

Internet - serious business. ^^

Nobody really cares. Sites will sell your information anyway.

And by the way, I have stopped visiting devart since they banned anime!

*jaderabbit* · Dec 10, 2005, 04:14 AM

Im not a big fan of devi art.. but i have been there for a few months.. and only have released a few walls there. like.. maybe 3 lmao.

Joshua001 · Dec 10, 2005, 04:56 AM

a posibility is that since they dont (or rather are not asked for info) give info they dont see the point in making a policy

Miroku4444 · Dec 10, 2005, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zdenek

In America, laws are probably more important. But Nobody really cares. Sites will sell your information anyway.

And by the way, I have stopped visiting devart since they banned anime!

Why did they do that.

I only go there for the ps brushes.

*narrator* · Dec 10, 2005, 11:51 AM

You're preaching to the choir Ace, I've been with Deviantart for 3 years as well, but as far as I'm concerned...they can go make love to themselves.

djt23 · Dec 10, 2005, 12:25 PM

Why did they do that.

aceman67 · Dec 10, 2005, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zdenek

And by the way, I have stopped visiting devart since they banned anime!

They never banned anime, Infact, their Anime section is larger then its ever been, they only removed the Anime Wallpaper section because they were ordered too by Anime Distibuters and Studios, the same way sites that have Licenced Anime for download get shut down.

If you look on the front page, you'll see a peice of anime art in the Top favorites.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua001

a posibility is that since they dont (or rather are not asked for info) give info they dont see the point in making a policy

Actually, you do have to give them your address if you want to buy prints, or add things to your prints wish list, Which I have given them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by narrator

You're preaching to the choir Ace, I've been with Deviantart for 3 years as well, but as far as I'm concerned...they can go make love to themselves.

You obviously didn't read the last line in my post did you. I said its not going to affect me, but it did give me pause.

*narrator* · Dec 10, 2005, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aceman67

You obviously didn't read the last line in my post did you. I said its not going to affect me, but it did give me pause.

No. You obviously didn't read my last line, Deviantart lost it's soul ages ago and no one here cares about the site anymore.

!Musouka-chan · Dec 10, 2005, 02:51 PM

I'm a member of DeviantArt. Dont think I have anything to really worry about in concern to personal information seeing that I really dont have anything inputed that would be valuable.

Oh well, some people are more concerned than others I guess. No offence.

aceman67 · Dec 10, 2005, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narrator

No. You obviously didn't read my last line, Deviantart lost it's soul ages ago and no one here cares about the site anymore.

Concidering that its ranked in the top 500 websites based on traffic, it has over 17,100,000+ peices of art (almost 200 of those are mine), and well over a million "deviants", which a good deal of AO members count them selves as "Deviants", I think a good deal of people care about the site. I just think that you don't care.

Dec 10, 2005, 04:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
jaderabbit Cheetos Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The World Posts: 3,652 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts Credits: 7,474	Re: DeviantART Has no Privacy Policy (dA members should read this) Im not a big fan of devi art.. but i have been there for a few months.. and only have released a few walls there. like.. maybe 3 lmao. __________________ -Just another green eyed angel, distorted by mans love for hate- \|THE INFAMOUS\|The Host\|Twilight Series\|Twilight Movie\|Untouched!\|
Status: Offline

Dec 10, 2005, 04:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
Joshua001 Otaku Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Caemlyn, Andor Posts: 428 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Credits: 1,650	Re: DeviantART Has no Privacy Policy (dA members should read this) a posibility is that since they dont (or rather are not asked for info) give info they dont see the point in making a policy
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Dec 10, 2005, 11:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
narrator Self Banned and Loving it Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Check the cellar.... Posts: 1,990 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Credits: 251	Re: DeviantART Has no Privacy Policy (dA members should read this) You're preaching to the choir Ace, I've been with Deviantart for 3 years as well, but as far as I'm concerned...they can go make love to themselves. __________________
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Dec 10, 2005, 12:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
djt23 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: GA Snellville Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Credits: 120	Re: DeviantART Has no Privacy Policy (dA members should read this) Why did they do that. __________________ i just love anime this one fav Please Teacher yo i have website * LINK REMOVED * Please see Sig Rules
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Dec 10, 2005, 02:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
!Musouka-chan Banned Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 42 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Credits: -200	Re: DeviantART Has no Privacy Policy (dA members should read this) I'm a member of DeviantArt. Dont think I have anything to really worry about in concern to personal information seeing that I really dont have anything inputed that would be valuable. Oh well, some people are more concerned than others I guess. No offence.
Status: Offline

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