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Spotify Just Got Real Creepy with the Data It Collects on You

forbes.com

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Re: Spotify Just Got Real Creepy with the Data It Collects on You

#41

Post by charlesray »

thomasrossi wrote: post #32
charlesray wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I pay £10 a month to avoid this crap" I don't understand this concept. I pay $10 a month get rid of ads, to be able to use the mobile app, and to get higher quality streams. There was never any reason to believe being a paid member had any impact on the data Spotify collects from you.

I notice two things: 1) why shouldn't Apple collect the very same data? 2) apparently users are willing to pay for privacy, that's pretty cool! Something like vysk will actually have some space.

"1) why shouldn't Apple collect the very same data?"

How do we know they don't? Has anyone read the privacy policy lately?

I mean, the only reason anyone flipped about Microsoft's privacy policy is because they took the unusual step of making it understandable to the layman. And they were crucified for that.

Re: Spotify Just Got Real Creepy with the Data It Collects on You

#42

Post by charlesray »

jalfresi wrote: post #28
gcr wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? Apple built your telephone ; they already know about your "contacts, photos, or media files." They know your GPS location, too. This reminds me of the quip about conservative folks threatening to move to Canada because they're unhappy about all the corrupting liberal values creeping into American politics.

I am under no illusions that Apple keeps this information. I've opted out of iAds so I know that my data is not being used against me, and Apple do not sell my data to third-parties. To be clear, Spotify using my habits and data to improve their service I have no problem with; it makes a better service for me! Same with Apple. Maybe I should have explained clearer in my original comment (though I thought it was obvio…

"It's a plain cash grab at my expense."

It is absolutely not.

Re: Spotify Just Got Real Creepy with the Data It Collects on You

#44

Post by mnem »

jamesblonde wrote: post #16
benihana wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah you already said that elsewhere, also without any kind of proof or even a hint that it might be true.

Dude, that's how the real world works. Hacks do not read updates to privacy policies. They get a tip-off and summary of what to write. I don't need proof. That's how it works.

Ah, you just know the truth. You should apply to become a judge. It'd speed the court system up.

Re: Spotify Just Got Real Creepy with the Data It Collects on You

#45

Post by JustSomeNobody »

I don't use spotify and I usually don't like social anything (except HN, of course). However...

Surely there are reasonable explanations. Let's break this down.

GPS and motion sensors. Why could they want this? Maybe they will switch up your play list when you go for that run. Seems plausible.

Contacts. Ok, everything is social, so maybe they want to send your current track to other spotify users in your contacts. Seems plausible.

Photos. Not sure about this one.

Sharing your information with partners. Does spotify play ads? wouldn't this be a standard part of sharing data with Apple and Google's ad network?

I'm not defending them, but this is the social world we live in. You either find alternatives or deal with apps that pack social features in.

Re: Spotify Just Got Real Creepy with the Data It Collects on You

#46

Post by charlesray »

JustSomeNobody wrote: post #45

I don't use spotify and I usually don't like social anything (except HN, of course). However... Surely there are reasonable explanations. Let's break this down. GPS and motion sensors. Why could they want this? Maybe they will switch up your play list when you go for that run. Seems plausible. Contacts. Ok, everything is social, so maybe they want to send your current track to other spotify users in your contacts. Se…

I THINK, and I could be totally wrong, but I THINK that on at least some platforms, when an app requires access to information stored locally on your phone, it's an all-or-nothing thing. So if Spotify needs permissions to local media files (which it obviously does) then there's no way to grant that without also giving it access to your local photos, for example. Could be totally wrong, I don't know, but I remember hearing that several times.

Re: Spotify Just Got Real Creepy with the Data It Collects on You

#47

Post by jagermo »

jamesblonde wrote: post #2

Apple are just getting dirty in the music business now. They're telling their favorite journalists about Spotify's new privacy policy - like a journalist would ever investigate such a thing!

Not really. Brews is covering topics like privacy, so the updated policy and the additional permissions might have peeked his interest. http://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/

Re: Spotify Just Got Real Creepy with the Data It Collects on You

#48

Post by JustSomeNobody »

charlesray wrote: post #46
JustSomeNobody wrote: post #45

I don't use spotify and I usually don't like social anything (except HN, of course). However... Surely there are reasonable explanations. Let's break this down. GPS and motion sensors. Why could they want this? Maybe they will switch up your play list when you go for that run. Seems plausible. Contacts. Ok, everything is social, so maybe they want to send your current track to other spotify users in your contacts. Se…

I THINK, and I could be totally wrong, but I THINK that on at least some platforms, when an app requires access to information stored locally on your phone, it's an all-or-nothing thing. So if Spotify needs permissions to local media files (which it obviously does) then there's no way to grant that without also giving it access to your local photos, for example. Could be totally wrong, I don't know, but I remember he…

That would make sense.

Re: Spotify Just Got Real Creepy with the Data It Collects on You

#49

Post by caractacus »

JustSomeNobody wrote: post #45

I don't use spotify and I usually don't like social anything (except HN, of course). However... Surely there are reasonable explanations. Let's break this down. GPS and motion sensors. Why could they want this? Maybe they will switch up your play list when you go for that run. Seems plausible. Contacts. Ok, everything is social, so maybe they want to send your current track to other spotify users in your contacts. Se…

> GPS and motion sensors. Why could they want this? Maybe they will switch up your play list when you go for that run. Seems plausible.

They introduced a running feature a few months ago that does, indeed, attempt to match the bpm of a playlist to your running cadence.

> Contacts. Ok, everything is social, so maybe they want to send your current track to other spotify users in your contacts. Seems plausible.

Share a playlist with a contact. Share a track with a contact. Etc etc. I'm surprised this wasn't already in there if it's really a new addition.

> Photos. Not sure about this one.

Might be related to running. Strava, fr'instance, lets you add photos taken on your run. Or might just be to let you adorn a playlist with your chosen photo.

> Sharing your information with partners.

Doesn't everyone? Isn't this standard boilerplate? Spotify are attempting brand tie-ups in many areas so I can't see this as something out of the ordinary.

Re: Spotify Just Got Real Creepy with the Data It Collects on You

#50

Post by lowmagnet »

jagermo wrote: post #5

I just wanted to note that forbes uses at least 16 trackers in this article (and does not tell you about it). I have no problem with journalists pointing out flaws, but especially forbes likes to know a lot about its readers.

With the default uBlock and uMatrix rules I use, the article just shows a spinner. I have to enable forbesimg.com that loads article thumbnails and the main css, along with 'vendor' and 'scripts' js.
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