Windows Feedback Program Agreement Changes.

Maybe I'm too big a privacy nut, but I fail to see why my usage information and/or survey responses should be tied to my personally information.

I know this may seem like a troll, but it is not meant as one.* I was a member of the Windows Feedback Program and thought it was a valid tool to help make windows better in the future.* With these changes I have disenrolled from the program.

I am unable to think of any purpose for tying these statistics in with personal information other than for marketing purposes.*

What do you guys think?* Is there a technical value to coupling your personal information with these usage statics rather than just using a machineid that is not tied to user info?* Am I over reacting?

Copy of the changes*below, items in red are the ones that concerned me.*

I am also frustrated that I never recieved this email, and got it forwarded to me from a friend.**I would have had my WFP software update in the background and had the participation agreement change without being aware of it.



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<b><!--fonto:Tahoma--> Tahoma <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo--><!--fonto:Tahoma--> Tahoma <!--/fonto-->From:</b><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><!--fonto:Tahoma--> Tahoma <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo--><!--fonto:Tahoma--> Tahoma <!--/fonto--> winpanel@microsoft.com [mailto:winpanel@microsoft.com]
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 10, 2008 6:25 PM
<b>To:</b>
<b>Subject:</b> notification from the Windows Feedback Program<!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->
<!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--> <!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->Thank you for participating in the Windows Feedback Program!<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->
<!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->On April 15, 2008, a new version of the Windows Feedback Panel (WFP) software and an updated will be available on the Windows Feedback Panel program . Please take a moment to review these updates, <!--coloro:#ff0000--><span style="color:#ff0000 <!--/coloro-->as the new version of the WFP software will automatically update the current version on your PC.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->
<!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->Two sections in our Privacy Statement - <b>Collection of Your Information<!--fontc--><!--/fontc--></b> and <b><!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto-->Choice and Control - <!--fontc--><!--/fontc--></b>are being updated. Changes to these sections are underlined in the sections below:<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->
<blockquote><b><!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->Collection of Your Information</b><!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->
We will collect personal information if you choose to participate in the Program. The personal information we collect may include your name, gender, e-mail address, city, and ZIP code. In addition, we will collect and store your survey responses. If you choose to participate in the automated feedback program, information about your software and your computer will be recorded and sent back to Microsoft. This information includes, but is not limited to:
<li class=MsoNormal style=" <!--coloro:#ff0000--><span style="color:#ff0000 <!--/coloro--> <!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->Windows usage behavior including installed and used applications<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--> .<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--> <li class=MsoNormal style=" <!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->Number and type of software errors encountered.<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--> <li class=MsoNormal style=" <!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->Performance of software and hardware products installed on your computer<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--> <li class=MsoNormal style=" <!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo--><!--coloro:#ff0000--><span style="color:#ff0000 <!--/coloro-->File and folder structures on your computer,<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--> <!--coloro:#ff0000--><span style="color:#ff0000 <!--/coloro--> including number of types of files in folders, such as number of jpg files in the Pictures folder .<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--> <li class=MsoNormal style=" <!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->What transpired during a network problem, including data obtained from various network connections, components, and devices installed on your computer. <!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><li class=MsoNormal style=" <!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->System-specific information, such as hardware, devices, drivers, and settings installed on your computer . <!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><li class=MsoNormal style=" <!--coloro:#ff0000--><span style="color:#ff0000 <!--/coloro--> <!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->Registry values<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--> . <!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><li class=MsoNormal style=" <!--coloro:#ff0000--><span style="color:#ff0000 <!--/coloro--> <!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->Event logs<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--> .<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--> <!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->Office Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) data. <!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->More information about this program is available in the applicable Office privacy statement. The Office 2007 privacy statement can be found . To display the privacy statement for Office 2003, please search for "Privacy Statement" in Office 2003 online help. Please see below for more information.<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) data. <!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->More information about this program can be found in the . Please see below for more information.<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--> <!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo--><!--coloro:#ff0000--><span style="color:#ff0000 <!--/coloro--><b>Both your survey responses and automated feedback will be associated with your personal information.</b><!--colorc--><!--/colorc--> Please note that this differs with the CEIP disclosures in the Office 2007, Office 2003, and Windows Vista privacy statements. If you choose to participate in the automated feedback program of the Windows Feedback Program, the CEIP data we collect while you are in the automated feedback program will be associated with the personal information we collect from you through the Windows Feedback Program.<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->
<b><!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->Choice and Control</b><!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->
The Microsoft Windows Feedback Panel software occasionally checks online to ensure that you are running the most current version of the software and automatically installs an upgrade if a newer version is available.
[/quote]<!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->We also wanted to let you know that you will be entered for a chance to win <b><!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto-->USD $5,000 cash<!--fontc--><!--/fontc--></b> each time you complete a survey from the survey feedback program between April 1, 2008 and June 30, 2008. If you participate in the automated feedback program, you will receive an additional sweepstakes entry if you remain an active member in the program through June 30, 2008.* <!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->
<!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->The winner will be notified by mail and email. We are about to announce the winner of the last sweepstakes period on our .<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->
<!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->THANK YOU<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->
<!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% <!--/sizeo-->- <i><!--fonto:Times New Roman--> Times New Roman <!--/fonto-->The Windows Experience Team <!--fontc--><!--/fontc--></i><!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->