Nvidia responds to criticism of user data collection

An ever-increasing focus on providing software services has made user data collection increasingly common, something that makes security-conscious users respond. The latest to end up in bad weather for this is Nvidia, which with the latest update to Geforce Experience 3.0 has introduced a new Windows service that does just that.

GeForce Experience collects data to improve the application experience; this includes crash and bug reports as well as system information needed to deliver the correct drivers and optimal settings. NVIDIA does not share any personally identifiable information collected by GeForce Experience outside the company. NVIDIA may share aggregate-level data with select partners, but does not share user-level data. The nature of the information collected has remained consistent since the introduction of GeForce Experience 1.0.The change with GeForce Experience 3.0 is that this error reporting and data collection is now being done in real-time.

In an official statement to PC Games N, Nvidia responds to the criticism by saying that the amount of data collected has not changed since Geforce Experience 1.0. What it’s about is information about your computer’s full specifications, drivers, and games with associated data about settings and performance.

Furthermore, it appears that Nvidia can also identify who the information comes from, provided that these are logged in to Geforce Experience. However, the company claims that they never share user-specific data externally and that their partners may only take part in compiled information that cannot be traced to individuals.

New with the “Nvidia telemetry monitor” service is that it instead does this in real time and sends information to Nvidia. The purpose of the data collection is to make it easier for the company to troubleshoot various bugs and crashes in games combined with specific hardware.

For those who want to know more, Nvidia says that all information about what is collected can be found in the user agreement (EULA) for Geforce Experience and in a FAQ.