As a little PSA word of warning, it seems EA / Respawn have begun another little ban wave or they've tweaked something in their anti-cheat that Linux / Steam Deck players are getting caught in for Apex Legends.
I got caught up in it. At this point I have no respect for the company. This was one of my favorite games to play but I refuse to touch any EA products anymore. I only hope they unban me so I can officially delete my account.
Edit: After going through 12 emails, with 6 consecutive different associates, In which 5/6 asked me for verification that I owned the account instead of actually progressing the case - I finally reached someone who helped. I submitted a request on the site and am waiting back to get confirmation my data was deleted.
The email chain went like this:
Assistant 1: Requests verification code and asks if I want to exercise my right to be forgotten
Me: (verifies and confirms)
Assistant 2: Sends a disclaimer and asks me to confirm
Me: (confirms)
Assistant 3: Asks if it’s for this account, if there are any others.
Me: (confirms)
Assistant 4: Requests verification again and asks if I am trying to exercise my right to be forgotten.
Me: (confirms)
Assistant 5: Requests verification code and asks me if I have any mobile games.
Me: (confirms and answers no)
Assistant 6: Requests verification code again. Asks if I am exercising my right to be forgotten.
Me: (says I’m not confirming any more and to delete my damn data according to the GDPR)
Right after that someone contacts me that they are looking into it. Eventually I get an email with a link to the help site that asks me to to confirm my email I follow through, request a deletion and it says to wait a couple days for a confirmation email.
I also receive another email from another associate shortly after (#7) asking me to confirm that I want to request my data is deleted.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) gives individuals the right to ask for their data to be deleted and organisations do have an obligation to do so, except in the following cases:
the personal data your company/organisation holds is needed to exercise the right of freedom of expression;
there is a legal obligation to keep that data;
for reasons of public interest (for example public health, scientific, statistical or historical research purposes).
How long ago did you contact them?
If they haven’t done what you asked within 30 days*, you should report it to your country’s data protection agency. I also recommend that you inform EA that you are willing to do that, if they are not cooperating.
*In some cases they can extend the deadline a bit, but in general it’s 30 days.
I got caught up in it. At this point I have no respect for the company. This was one of my favorite games to play but I refuse to touch any EA products anymore. I only hope they unban me so I can officially delete my account.
Edit: After going through 12 emails, with 6 consecutive different associates, In which 5/6 asked me for verification that I owned the account instead of actually progressing the case - I finally reached someone who helped. I submitted a request on the site and am waiting back to get confirmation my data was deleted.
The email chain went like this: Assistant 1: Requests verification code and asks if I want to exercise my right to be forgotten Me: (verifies and confirms) Assistant 2: Sends a disclaimer and asks me to confirm Me: (confirms) Assistant 3: Asks if it’s for this account, if there are any others. Me: (confirms) Assistant 4: Requests verification again and asks if I am trying to exercise my right to be forgotten. Me: (confirms) Assistant 5: Requests verification code and asks me if I have any mobile games. Me: (confirms and answers no) Assistant 6: Requests verification code again. Asks if I am exercising my right to be forgotten. Me: (says I’m not confirming any more and to delete my damn data according to the GDPR)
Right after that someone contacts me that they are looking into it. Eventually I get an email with a link to the help site that asks me to to confirm my email I follow through, request a deletion and it says to wait a couple days for a confirmation email.
I also receive another email from another associate shortly after (#7) asking me to confirm that I want to request my data is deleted.
A fuckin’ nightmare.
Send them the GDPR horror letter
Think I have any actual recourse to pressure them into deleting it? They won’t let you delete any account with an active ban
Source: https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/data-protection/reform/rules-business-and-organisations/dealing-citizens/do-we-always-have-delete-personal-data-if-person-asks_en
Well, I contacted them and used the GDPR as my reasoning. Let’s see if they comply or come up with another excuse.
It’s also worth giving them the benefit of a doubt. It might be just a bug or an oversight.
I don’t see how player data even would be worth risking GDPR fines. But at least you don’t have to worry about it.
You can’t delete your account if you’re banned? Seems a bit iffy.
So just like Reddit does if I’m not mistaken ?
Shady to say the least. But as long as you have a single ban active, they keep you from deleting it
A GDPR request could accomplish that easily. They will obviously need to keep some amount of information so you just can’t make a new account.
Right now they’re giving me a run around for it so it hasn’t been so easy
How long ago did you contact them? If they haven’t done what you asked within 30 days*, you should report it to your country’s data protection agency. I also recommend that you inform EA that you are willing to do that, if they are not cooperating.
*In some cases they can extend the deadline a bit, but in general it’s 30 days.
It was yesterday but good to know that there can be at least a general timeline. I guess I’ll just have to put up with all the walls for now.
EA ruin my favorite gaming franchise: Battlefield
Or DICE did under the supervision of the geniuses over at EA.
Now I will never get to play another Battlefield game…
So yeah, it’s better to stay away from EA products.