Re: Why is Microsoft watching us watch DVD movies?

From: Patrick M. Hausen (hausen@punkt.de)
Date: 02/21/02 

From: "Patrick M. Hausen" <hausen@punkt.de>
To: "Richard M. Smith" <rms@computerbytesman.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2002 11:42:13 +0100 (CET)

Hi all!

Richard Smith wrote:

> Serious privacy problems in Windows Media Player for Windows XP
> [...]

> In particular, the privacy problems with WMP version 8 are:
>
> - Each time a new DVD movie is played on a computer, the WMP software
> contacts a Microsoft Web server to get title and chapter information for
> the DVD. When this contact is made, the Microsoft Web server is giving
> an electronic fingerprint which identifies the DVD movie being watched

Microsoft might argue, that this is a "service" for the user
similar to the one CDDB has been providing for audio CDs for
years.

> and a cookie which uniquely identifies a particular WMP player. With
> this two pieces of information Microsoft can track what DVD movies are
> being watched on a particular computer.

_This_ on the other hand is an unfriendly attack on anyones privacy.
Does someone know if CDDB does similar things?

> - The WMP software also builds a small database on the computer hard
> drive of all DVD movies that have been watched on the computer.

Well, again, just like CDDB does - I'd consider this a feature
as long as I get to control the content of the DB and no one but
me can peek inside.

> - As of Feb. 14, 2002, the Microsoft privacy policy for WMP version 8
> does not disclose that the fact that WMP "phones home" to get DVD title
> information, what kind of tracking Microsoft does of which movies
> consumers are watching, and how cookies are used by the WMP software and
> the Microsoft servers.

Neither does the README file for any CD player application, I have
tried so far.

> - There does not appear to be any option in WMP to stop it from phoning
> home when a DVD movie is viewed. In addition, there does not appear any
> easy method of clearing out the DVD movie database on the local hard
> drive.

This, again, is _very_ bad practice.

CDDB was just my first thought when I read your post and I haven't
seen anyone complaining about that service in the last couple
of years. The cookie issue needs to be addressed at the very least,
though.

Regards,

Patrick M. Hausen
Technical Director 

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