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Common Sense Privacy Program

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Privacy Evaluation for PlayStation

Last updated
Applications and services with a Warning rating do not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices. Applications and services with a Warning rating have issues narrowly focused around data use related to creating profiles that are not associated with any educational purpose, selling data, and/or using data to target advertisements.

62%

Warning

Learn how we rate

Overview

PlayStation is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Playstation's terms say that when users create an account, certain information will form part of their public profile and Playstation will make it accessible to all accounts on the PlayStation Network, and on the Internet via playstation.com, and some third-party websites, apps or services. The terms say Playstation does not sell a user's data, but may send personalized third-party marketing communications, and display targeted advertisements to users on third-party websites and services across the internet based on the information Playstation has collected and tracked about a user over time. In addition, the terms say Playstation seeks to maintain reasonable technical and organizational security measures that conform to industry standards to help protect a user's information against unauthorized or accidental disclosure, access, misuse, loss, or alteration. Lastly, the terms say Playstation is committed to respecting children's privacy and will not collect personal information from anyone that Playstation has actual knowledge is under the age of 13 without a parent's consent.

PlayStation can be accessed through its website, and is available for download at the iOS App Store, and the Google Play Store. The Privacy Policy and Terms of Use used for this evaluation can be found on PlayStation’s website, iOS App Store, and the Google Play Store. Additionally, other policies used for this evaluation include: Playstation Network Terms of Service and User Agreement, and Policy Name. This evaluation only considers policies that have been made publicly available prior to an individual using the application or service.

Safety

Playstation's terms say that when users create an account, certain information will form part of their public profile and Playstation will make it accessible to all accounts on the PlayStation Network, and on the Internet via playstation.com, and some third-party websites, apps or services. The terms say a parent can control, through the “Free Communication” setting on their child's Account, their child's ability to use and share personal information through text chat, voice chat, video chat, and other messaging features from communicating directly with other users in games, apps or via system software features.

The terms also say a child's account has social interaction features that can send and receive predetermined text messages created by a game or app, or even create and see other users' in-game character names, designs, and clan titles. In addition, child accounts can communicate with other users via system messaging tools. Lastly, a parent can control their child's ability to post or view user-generated content, including photos, videos, drawings, and content imported from outside sources through the user-generated content control. However, this setting does not prevent video capture of a child account user's online gameplay.

Privacy

The terms say Playstation may collect personal and behavioral information about how users use the software installed on the device, such as the date and time of use, what games or music the user plays, what content the user browses, shares or download, what services they access and for how long, including how often they use chat and other communication applications and with whom. In addition, the terms say Playstation does not sell a user's data, but may send personalized third-party marketing communications, and display targeted advertisements to users on third-party websites and services across the internet based on the information Playstation has collected and tracked about a user over time.

Security

The terms say Playstation seeks to maintain reasonable technical and organizational security measures that conform to industry standards to help protect a user's information against unauthorized or accidental disclosure, access, misuse, loss, or alteration. However, the terms do not disclose whether data is encrypted or whether notice is provided to users in the event of a data breach.

Compliance

The terms say Playstation is committed to respecting children's privacy and will not collect personal information from anyone that Playstation has actual knowledge is under the age of 13 without a parent's consent. In addition, when a parent allows their child's account to participate in games, chat or user-generated content features, they also consent to Playstation sharing personal information with the publishers of the games, applications, or services that incorporate those features. A parent only needs to provide limited information about their child, such as an email address and date-of-birth to create an account for their child. Lastly, the terms say Playstation allows users to access, modify, delete, and export their data at any time. However, the terms do not discuss student data privacy and potential use by students in K-12 institutions.

Rating

This product received a Warning rating based on the following details:
  • Data are not sold or rented to third parties.
  • Data are shared for third-party advertising and/or marketing.
  • Behavioral or targeted advertising is displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-party advertising or tracking services.
  • Data are used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for data enhancement, and/or targeted advertisements.
Data Collection
SCORE: 50%

What data does it collect?

  • Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected.
  • The categories of collected personally identifiable information are indicated.
  • Collection or use of data is limited to product requirements.
  • Geolocation data are collected.
  • Unclear whether this product collects biometric or health data.
  • Behavioral data are collected.
  • Sensitive data are collected.
  • Non-personally identifiable information is collected.
  • Unclear whether this product treats combined information as personally identifiable information (PII).
  • Personal information from children under 13 years of age is collected online.
Data Sharing
SCORE: 65%

What data does it share?

  • Collected information is shared with third parties.
  • The categories of information shared with third parties are indicated.
  • The purpose for sharing a user's personal information with third parties is indicated.
  • Unclear whether use of information is limited to the purpose for which it was collected.
  • Unclear whether data are shared for analytics.
  • Data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
  • Data are shared with third-party service providers.
  • The roles of third-party service providers are indicated.
  • Unclear whether this product supports social or federated login.
  • Contractual limits are placed on third-party data use.
Data Security
SCORE: 45%

How does it secure data?

  • A user's identity is verified with additional personal information.
  • Account creation is required.
  • Parental controls or managed accounts are available.
  • Two-factor account protection is available.
  • Unclear whether third-party contractual security protections are required.
  • Industry best practices are used to protect data.
  • Unclear whether this product limits employee or physical access to user information.
  • Unclear whether this product encrypts all data in transit.
  • Unclear whether this product encrypts all data at rest.
  • Unclear whether this product provides notice in the event of a data breach.
Data Rights
SCORE: 75%

What rights do I have to the data?

  • Opt-in consent is requested from users at the time personal information is collected.
  • Users can control their information through privacy settings.
  • Users can create or upload content.
  • Unclear whether users retain ownership of their data.
  • Processes to access and review user data are available.
  • Processes to modify inaccurate data are available.
  • A data-retention policy is available.
  • Unclear whether the school, parents, or students can delete data.
  • Processes to delete user data are available.
  • Processes to download user data are available.
Data Sold
SCORE: 20%

Is the data sold?

  • Data are not sold or rented to third parties.
  • Unclear whether users can opt out from the disclosure or sale of their data to a third party.
  • User information can be transferred to a third party.
  • Unclear whether users are notified if their information is transferred to a third party.
  • Unclear whether user information can be deleted prior to its transfer to a third party.
  • Unclear whether third-party transfers are contractually required to use the same privacy practices.
  • Unclear whether user information is shared in an anonymous or deidentified format.
  • Unclear whether the vendor describes their deidentification process of user information.
  • Data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
  • Unclear whether contractual limits prohibit third parties from reidentifying deidentified information.
Data Safety
SCORE: 70%

How safe is this product?

  • Users can interact with trusted users and/or students.
  • Users can interact with untrusted users, including strangers and/or adults.
  • Profile information is shared for social interactions.
  • Personal information is displayed publicly.
  • Users can control how their data are displayed.
  • User-created content is reviewed, screened, or monitored by the vendor.
  • User-created content is filtered for personal information before being made publicly visible.
  • Social interactions between users are not moderated.
  • Social interactions of users are logged.
  • Unclear whether users can report abuse or cyberbullying.
Ads & Tracking
SCORE: 45%

Are there advertisements or tracking?

  • Data are shared for third-party advertising and/or marketing.
  • Traditional or contextual advertisements are displayed.
  • Behavioral or targeted advertising is displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-party advertising or tracking services.
  • Data are used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for data enhancement, and/or targeted advertisements.
  • The vendor can send marketing messages.
  • The vendor does provide promotional sweepstakes, contests, or surveys.
  • Users can opt out of traditional, contextual, or behavioral advertising.
  • Unclear whether this product provides users the ability to opt out or unsubscribe from marketing communications.
Parental Consent
SCORE: 60%

Can I provide parental consent?

  • Intended for children under 13.
  • Unclear whether intended for parents or guardians.
  • Vendor does have actual knowledge that personal information from users under 13 years of age is collected.
  • Unclear whether children's privacy is applicable.
  • Unclear whether this product indicates COPPA parental consent exceptions.
  • Parental consent is required.
  • Parental consent is limited with respect to third parties.
  • Unclear whether this product allows parents to withdraw consent for the further collection of their child's information.
  • Children's personal information is deleted if collected without parental consent.
  • Parental consent notice and method for submission are provided.
School Purpose
SCORE: 0%

Is the product intended for school?

  • Unclear whether intended for students.
  • Unclear whether personal information or education records are collected from preK-12 students.
  • Unclear whether intended for teachers.
  • Unclear whether this product is primarily used by, designed for, and marketed toward students in grades preK–12.
  • Unclear whether the product creates education records.
  • Unclear whether this product provides notification of a contract or additional rights.
  • Unclear whether this product designates the vendor as a school official.
  • Unclear whether this product transfers parental consent obligations to the school or district.
  • Unclear whether the vendor indicates FERPA parental consent exceptions.
  • Unclear whether this product discloses directory information.

Common Sense Standard Privacy Report (SPR)

The standard privacy report (SPR) displays all the privacy practices from a product's policies in a single, easy-to-read outline. The report shows a green check mark for better privacy practices and an orange alert for risky or unclear practices. This alert indicates that more time should be focused on these particular details prior to use.

Learn more about the SPR Read the report

About Privacy Evaluations

The privacy evaluations have been designed with the help and support of a consortium of schools and districts across the United States. These evaluations are designed to help educators make informed decisions about the potential privacy implications of educational technology used to support teaching and learning.

Our core evaluation criteria will always be freely available. People are encouraged to read the questions we use and our information security primer. Vendors are encouraged to use our questions and the information security primer to self-evaluate. You can also learn more about our evaluation process. Please be in touch with any questions or feedback.