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Manjaro Linux prepares to enable telemetry by default

forum.manjaro.org

71–80 of 105 posts

Re: Manjaro Linux prepares to enable telemetry by default

#72
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't host all of the mirrors themselves so they'd be missing out on most of the data that way.

They can host all the default mirrors themselves, either by serving the actual data (with a CDN) or by redirecting requests to a 3rd party mirror by GeoIP.

Which would be an insanely expensive way to collect very little usable information. Mirrors are run for free by volunteers, a worldwide CDN to replace free mirrors would be prohibitively costly for a relatively small distro like Manjaro.

Re: Manjaro Linux prepares to enable telemetry by default

#73
post #18

The less I know about users of the software I write, the better. > we need at least some data about how Manjaro is being used by so many people around the world in order to show that the project has a future and also to plan for that future. Charitably, this implies they want to plan around things like infrastructure scaling. Why can't they just look at present demands on their infrastructure? (i.e. why bother with a…

> The less I know about users of the software I write, the better.

Said no successful project ever.

Re: Manjaro Linux prepares to enable telemetry by default

#74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Manjaro just repackages the same thing with a harder-to-use and more confusing GUI which people are more willing to give a spin. Lol, if it was harder to use people would use archinstall instead.

I disagree. Archinstall has better disk partitioning tools, more options and a more logical and clear setup menu. The reason people do not use it and prefer Manjaro instead is because it has a GUI, despite the fact that it is objectively a worse interface. I say this as a former Arch/Manjaro user that had to reinstall his system every 2 months. Once you get over the "text on a screen is scary" phase it's immediately…

Well maybe after decades of evidence developers will come to grips with the fact that, for most users, a GUI is always better than a text interface.

Or you can keep shouting into a void, your choice.

Re: Manjaro Linux prepares to enable telemetry by default

#75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. Archinstall has better disk partitioning tools, more options and a more logical and clear setup menu. The reason people do not use it and prefer Manjaro instead is because it has a GUI, despite the fact that it is objectively a worse interface. I say this as a former Arch/Manjaro user that had to reinstall his system every 2 months. Once you get over the "text on a screen is scary" phase it's immediately…

Well maybe after decades of evidence developers will come to grips with the fact that, for most users, a GUI is always better than a text interface. Or you can keep shouting into a void, your choice.

If you are a normal person, you should not be installing Arch Linux.

Manjaro doesn't change that by making it easier to install, it baits users in with AUR packages and inevitably disappoints them because it's breaks your system even more often than Homebrew does.

Re: Manjaro Linux prepares to enable telemetry by default

#76

This is so user-hostile. I do not want a spyware in an OS. All telemetry should be opt-in and voluntary. Also, what would be the use of the telemetry? Find a reason to close a bug report with WONTFIX?

Perhaps their partners and sponsors want it.

Re: Manjaro Linux prepares to enable telemetry by default

#77
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding (and I am not a lawyer) is that under European data protection law the important thing is to obtain user consent for this; I think there's a very reasonable argument that informing the user that you collect telemetry and that if they wish to avoid this they should just build their own copy of the software (which provides a very easy to access opt out which should satisfy everyone). Although EU privac…

"Click yes to consent and continue installation, click no to exit the installer and be redirected to a manual on how to build your own copy" would be in violation of the "consent must be freely given" stipulation of the GDPR. You are more likely to get a regulator to agree to a version without consent (by minimizing personal data and arguing that your legitimate interest outweighs the weight of the little PII) than g…

While I get the point you are making, I find it a bit over the top that you'd consider agreeing to telemetry in exchange for using the free software as tantamount to being held hostage.

In case it needs to be said, I'm 100% in favor of strong privacy protection laws.

Re: Manjaro Linux prepares to enable telemetry by default

#78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And it's their software, not yours. They are free to require telemetry if they choose to do so. You're also free not to use their software if you don't like it. FWIW, I think it should be opt-in by default, but I think it's reasonable (aside from adhering to necessary privacy laws) for a project to choose the policy they want.

> And it's their software, not yours. Arguably, the point of open source software (or at least GPL licensed software) is that the owner of the hardware gets to "own" the software and can do what they like with it.

In that scenario they certainly can. They just have to take the source, modify it to suit their needs, and recompile it. They are 100% within their rights to do that.

Re: Manjaro Linux prepares to enable telemetry by default

#79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Consent needs to be freely given; you can't nudge users into it and you can't hold access ransom over it. There's no way what you're suggesting would fly.

I'm not an expert and not on either side, but couldn't a notice like "by agreeing to these terms you allow us to turn on telemetry by default, and you are free to simply not use this software instead" be allowed?

Absolutely NOT!
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