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Shadowheartz | iksd Mar 30, 2021 @ 7:20pm

Steam has now cookies?! NOT in browser BUT in the app

Since when are there cookies in steam app, feels like u can't escape them anymore

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Originally posted by RiO:

Originally posted by Quint the Alligator Snapper:
Originally posted by shadowheartz | iksd:
well i saw Evil Genius 2: World Domination was out, thought about buying it and saw notification on bottom of my screen
I think what you're talking about is a notification telling you that a site needs to set cookies; this is the result of a European law saying that sites have to tell you when they set cookies.

In the past, they could just do it without telling you. So this is actually better IMO.

Note that they still can force you to have cookies in order to use the site. But you kinda have to have them anyway since that's how logins on web browsers work.

It's a consequence of the EU GDPR and the many national precursors to the upcoming unified EU e-privacy regulation (that's been stuck in a political hell-hole for some time now).

Indeed, companies have to inform you of any form of personal data processing. Assigning and re-identifying a digital identifier in the form of a cookie is considered part of such data processing. Moreover, unless the cookie is purely a technical means to implement a core feature of the services offered, i.e. a so-called "functional cookie" in lay terms, they are required to ask for your consent.

The legal definitions stipulate that such consent should be explicit -- so no "by continuing to use this site ... blah blah blah ..." messages -- and should be freely given. That last one is interesting. By definition consent can not be considered freely given when the user has no real choice or is unable to refuse without detriment, where detriment includes not being able to use the service at all. This is why the concept of a cookie-wall is illegal. Or rather: it's not so much the concept of the wall itself that's illegal, it's just that it's impossible to get legally valid consent through one.

So in fact, companies can't force EU citizens to accept all cookies and can't show them the door if they still refuse. :)

The actual laws aren't limited to cookies either. Anything that can be used to create a digital identifier that allows re-identification with a measure of confidence is covered. Meaning techniques like attempting to build a fingerprint out of a user's device by analyzing e.g. connected hardware; installed system fonts; etc. is also covered.

Valve's new system is actually very nice and a shining example of how these things should work. Cookies are nicely split into optional cookies and technically required cookies. All cookies are mentioned by name and purpose; including references to third parties involved and the warning that said third parties may have their own privacy agreements which could allow them to e.g. profile you. And all the optional tracking things default to being turned OFF; i.e. it's all opt-in for the user's choice.

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Showing 1-15 of 170 comments

Havana Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:15pm

steam wants my traffic cookies ? never asked for this before

Do you mind if we use optional cookies to provide you personalized content and to analyze site traffic (including Google Analytics)?
We don't use a lot of cookies; you can see and manage them at any time on our Cookie Settings page. If you click 'Accept All,' you consent to the use of cookies on Steam websites. Learn more about cookies in our Privacy Policy.

Mr Jt (Gog is king) Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:17pm

Originally posted by Blacky:
Do you mind if we use optional cookies to provide you personalized content and to analyze site traffic (including Google Analytics)?
We don't use a lot of cookies; you can see and manage them at any time on our Cookie Settings page. If you click 'Accept All,' you consent to the use of cookies on Steam websites. Learn more about cookies in our Privacy Policy.

On mobile it doesn’t even go away at least on the app

Havana Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:19pm

Originally posted by Jt:
Originally posted by Blacky:
Do you mind if we use optional cookies to provide you personalized content and to analyze site traffic (including Google Analytics)?
We don't use a lot of cookies; you can see and manage them at any time on our Cookie Settings page. If you click 'Accept All,' you consent to the use of cookies on Steam websites. Learn more about cookies in our Privacy Policy.
On mobile it doesn’t even go away at least on the app

so im not the only one with this weird message ? prob a new steam update perhaps

CptnSpandex Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:21pm

I keep getting this pop up at the bottom of the store page but the problem is it wont go away, ive clicked reject all about 10 times now and every single time i go to the store page to look at the games it pops up again and again and again.

Havana Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:23pm

Originally posted by CptnSpandex:
I keep getting this pop up at the bottom of the store page but the problem is it wont go away, ive clicked reject all about 10 times now and every single time i go to the store page to look at the games it pops up again and again and again.

prob valve decided to collab with google and it didnt quite work out ? well will see but i think they fix this asap if its a giant problem

Last edited by Havana; Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:23pm

CptnSpandex Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:26pm

The fact that i have already answered no to all should be that's that, that is my right to make that choice, but to then be asked again over and over like im gonna change my mind lol, something has to be going wrong with the way they have set it up because it's not taking no for an answer.

Havana Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:26pm

steam wants my traffic cookies ? never asked for this before cant deny

Havana Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:27pm

Originally posted by CptnSpandex:
The fact that i have already answered no to all should be that's that, that is my right to make that choice, but to then be asked again over and over like im gonna change my mind lol, something has to be going wrong with the way they have set it up because it's not taking no for an answer.

just leave it be there until it goes away dont accept if u dont want to accept and steam is gonna fix it imma do that

Havana Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:32pm

Originally posted by Snapjak:
Don't post the same thing all over.
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/3080999624248533014/

ik fine but this is a scary type of question from steam i want answers to what they mean by traffic cookies from google

Havana Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:33pm

Originally posted by Snapjak:
Where are you seeing this, I'm not getting it anywhere either on PC (normal and incognito) nor on mobile browser (safari, normal mode and private).

its ony my steam client

#10

unca.alby Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:38pm

It's a thing that nearly every website on the planet does.

But there's this law in Europe now, I don't remember all the details, but basically it says that if you run a website that gets viewed anywhere in Europe and you place cookies on people's computers, you need to divulge that. Well, rather than trying to figure out whether the person is in Europe or not, websites now make that same declaration no matter what.

I find it rather annoying. Every time I visit a new website, and I visit new websites all the time, I have to acknowledge in varying different ways that the website uses cookies.

It's not quite as bad as California's Proposition 65, which is a law put into place where any facility that has any materials known to the State of California to maybe be carcinogenic even in the tiniest amount, then they have to divulge that. And when they don't (because almost everything qualifies) some shyster lawyer somewhere will sue them. Yah, maybe the case will get thrown out as frivolous, but many companies will just settle out of court to avoid the time and money consuming hassle, plus the bad press.

What I find surprising is that you only just now got this message. That law has been in effect for a number of years now. Maybe they only now got a subpoena to show up in some European court, who knows.

For the most part, there really isn't anything bad they can do with cookies, so you might as well just accept them and move on. If you're worried about them, you can always have your browser clear them out later. Or you can just stop using Steam websites.

Last edited by unca.alby; Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:49pm

#11

Havana Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:39pm

Originally posted by CptnSpandex:
I keep getting this pop up at the bottom of the store page but the problem is it wont go away, ive clicked reject all about 10 times now and every single time i go to the store page to look at the games it pops up again and again and again.

go to account details down to cookies and try to play with it maybe theres a fix

#12

Reaper23 Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:46pm

Google will track your cookies regardless what you manage so it doesn't really work. Steam could be different but it may not stop google from tracking you still. Google stop being a browser company and change into a surveillance company to track that's how they know so much when using their search engine on mostly anything unlike other browsers. The amount they know is scary.

If you're not okay using google you can use others to access Steam web page. By clicking yes the cookies can work on the site . DuckDuck go is a good one.

Here's a safe link of a powerful anti virus data base on cookies. https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/definitions/cookies

#13

Havana Mar 30, 2021 @ 5:48pm

Originally posted by Reaper23:
Google will track your cookies regardless what you manage so it doesn't really work. Steam could be different but it may not stop google from tracking you still. Google stop being a browser company and change into a surveillance company to track that's how they know so much when using their search engine on mostly anything unlike other browsers. The amount they know is scary.

If you're not okay using google you can use others to access Steam web page. By clicking yes the cookies can work on the site . DuckDuck go is a good one.

Here's a safe link of a powerful anti virus data base on cookies. https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/definitions/cookies

ty for that

#14