Riot Games · Riot Games Privacy Notice · View original document ↗

Kernel-Level Anti-Cheat Data Collection

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Document Record

What it is

Riot's Vanguard anti-cheat software runs at the kernel level of your operating system, giving it deep access to your device hardware and software to detect cheating. This means Riot can collect detailed system information beyond what typical apps access.

This analysis describes what Riot Games's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

The clause establishes the operational framework through which Riot Games implements automated enforcement mechanisms for terms violations. By authorizing background anti-cheat software with autonomous decision-making capacity, the provision creates a technological enforcement layer that operates independently of manual review processes.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium Apr 14, 2026

Riot Games has restructured how it presents information about data collection and use in its privacy notice. The company narrowed its third-party disclaimer by removing the phrase 'we don't own or control,' replacing it with 'we don't control'—a distinction that may affect which entities the company is claiming it has no privacy responsibility for. For California residents, the notice now consolidates information about categories of personal information and their purposes into a single section rather than splitting them across the document. The practical implication depends on how Riot Games operationally interprets 'control' in relation to its business relationships and how California regulators view this language under CCPA notice requirements.

View change record →

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Players who install Riot games with Vanguard grant Riot elevated access to their device, which may collect hardware identifiers, running processes, and system configurations. This goes beyond standard game telemetry and carries higher security implications.

How other platforms handle this

Roblox Medium

Your use of the Services is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Services, you consent to the data collection and use practices described in the Privacy Policy. Roblox collects information you provide directly, information collected a...

Best Buy Medium

We collect information about you in a variety of ways depending on how you interact with us and our products and services. This includes information you provide directly, information we collect automatically when you use our services, and information we receive from third parties. We may collect ide...

Tabnine Medium

Tabnine may collect and use technical data and related information, including but not limited to technical information about your device, system and application software, and usage data regarding your use of the Services (including code completion statistics and plugin interaction data), to facilita...

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Our Terms of Service strictly prohibit use of unauthorized third-party programs that interact with the Riot Services, including mods, hacks, cheats, scripts, bots, trainers, and automation programs. As described in Communication & Player Behavior, we may use anti-cheat and fraud prevention technologies (such as anti-cheat software that may run in the background of your device) that may make automated decisions (such as temporary or permanent account suspensions, communications restrictions, removal of content, or limited access to game content)

— Excerpt from Riot Games's Riot Games Privacy Notice

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

Kernel-level data collection raises compliance questions under GDPR Article 5 (data minimisation) and Article 25 (data protection by design), and may require explicit disclosure of the processing purposes and scope in Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).

Full compliance analysis

Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has jurisdiction over unfair or deceptive data collection practices, including undisclosed kernel-level access to consumer devices.
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
COPPA
United States Federal
Connecticut Data Privacy Act Amendments
US-CT
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
ePrivacy Directive
European Union
FTC Act Section 5
United States Federal
GDPR
European Union
Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act
US-IN
Kentucky Consumer Data Protection Act
US-KY
Universal Opt-Out Mechanism Expansion 2026
US

Provision details

Document information
Document
Riot Games Privacy Notice
Entity
Riot Games
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 20, 2026
Last verified
March 20, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-001562
Document ID
CA-D-00310
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
39702142b1ff9de41afd68c3620684a1be0bc3bef47100050658a43adbd5eca3
Analysis generated
March 20, 2026 11:13 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Riot Games
Document: Riot Games Privacy Notice
Record ID: CA-P-001562
Captured: 2026-03-20 11:13:03 UTC
SHA-256: 39702142b1ff9de4…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/riot-games/riot-games-privacy-notice/kernel-level-anti-cheat-data-collection/
Accessed: May 20, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

Other risks in this policy

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Riot Games's Kernel-Level Anti-Cheat Data Collection clause do?

The clause establishes the operational framework through which Riot Games implements automated enforcement mechanisms for terms violations. By authorizing background anti-cheat software with autonomous decision-making capacity, the provision creates a technological enforcement layer that operates independently of manual review processes.

How does this clause affect you?

Players who install Riot games with Vanguard grant Riot elevated access to their device, which may collect hardware identifiers, running processes, and system configurations. This goes beyond standard game telemetry and carries higher security implications.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Riot Games?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Riot Games.