Live data from Hacker News

Spotify will now suspend or terminate accounts it finds are using ad blockers

techcrunch.com

511–520 of 963 posts

Re: Spotify will now suspend or terminate accounts it finds are using ad blockers

#511
post #425

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never used this phrase in my entire life but it seems absolutely perfect for the described scenario. Sorry not sorry. I personally chose not to use Spotify at all, but I'm not going to fault anyone for using it with a thrid-party blocker. Even if Spotify didn't also do advertising the right way (e.g. branded playlists (I believe paying users get those too)), no one is obligated to subject themselves to personal…

If you don't want to "subject yourself to personal harm" you can either not use the service or pay for the ad-free service. You don't have a right to use Spotify how you want. It's an online service, not a piece of personal property.

But I still have right to NOT use service provided by Spotify or and another third-party service, completely or partially.

Re: Spotify will now suspend or terminate accounts it finds are using ad blockers

#512
post #418
post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mean they're not allowed to complain about it on the internet?

The presumption is that they were using the product against the stipulated terms. Nobody is arguing against free speech and if you think Spotify are awful for serving bad ads you can say so. But this article is specifically about people using a product against the stipulated terms. Criticizing bad ads is valid in general, but people expect topical discussions to stick to the context. Either clarify you are speaking f…

I didn't use the term "allowed" to imply there is a free speech argument, but to imply that there is an unreasonable expectation on people's behavior. Expecting that customers should "just" stop using service without complaining about the fact that they are doing so is not a reasonable expectation. People should air their grievances in addition to voting with their feet.

Re: Spotify will now suspend or terminate accounts it finds are using ad blockers

#513
post #58
post #13

They allow advertisers to run JS on your device, and ads are a trendy way to deliver malware. People are using ad blockers not just to hide annoyances and to improve performance, but to protect themselves from bad actors. https://spotifyforbrands.com/en-US/ad-experiences/ > JavaScript or iFrame Tags: All third-party tags and tracking URLs need to be in https format. I was on the fence about this because there is a le…

Between the dwindling Netflix catalog and increasingly hostile subscription service experience on Spotify, I have found myself flying the black flag again. I still have subscriptions to both, but I will be cancelling them this year. I don't want their shitty analytics payloads, I don't want their shitty anti-adblocker tech. I don't want their shitty tactics of deleting random songs off my playlists. I just want the c…

I canceled Netflix a few months ago. Their catalog is really garbage now.

Feels great flying the black flag again with Plex.

Re: Spotify will now suspend or terminate accounts it finds are using ad blockers

#514
post #473

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the same same time you are stealing a service if you don’t accept either of their revenue proposals when taking advantage of it. If you don’t want ads, then you need to pay in some form. Spotify is not a charity.

It's no stealing, it's not even lying. Show me where in the agreement it says exactly "you must to listen to ads from a third-party if you listen to music". There are things like "we retain the right to...", or "by using this service, you agree to allow us to...". There are no commandments, only stuff that covers their ass so you can't sue them for closing your account, exposing your personal information or letting o…

I'm frankly surprised at the level of entitlement that you and others are operating under.

Section 8 and 9 of the Spotify T&C is what you are looking for, btw.

Re: Spotify will now suspend or terminate accounts it finds are using ad blockers

#515
post #485

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I can't mix my paid-for (ripped) CDs and paid-for MP3s/AACs with streams in one app It's not an optimal solution, but iTunes can import songs from CDs, and you can add other mp3s to your library, but it doesn't cloud sync across devices. Another solution is Google Play Music, which can import your iTunes library (and CDs indirectly from iTunes) and does do cloud sync.

iTunes can do that too if you use iCloud Music.

iTunes has two options for cloud syncing your library: $10/month Apple Music (which includes downloading or streaming both music you uploaded and the whole Apple Music catalog) and $25/year iTunes Match (which lets you downloading or streaming music you uploaded, but not the whole Apple Music catalog)

Re: Spotify will now suspend or terminate accounts it finds are using ad blockers

#516
post #255

Good. Spotify has a pretty cheap paid option that removes all of that. To those who justify wanting the paid service for nothing by saying Spotify won't "take responsibility" or "assume liability" for their ads or those ads "might deliver malware" or are "intrusive" as a weak rationalization, you present a false dichotomy. There are at least three options: 1. Pay for the service 2. Suffer through the ads 3. Don't use…

I generally use option 4: pay for the service, and use a blocker to try to protect myself from risk I don’t see or understand.

Re: Spotify will now suspend or terminate accounts it finds are using ad blockers

#517
post #425

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never used this phrase in my entire life but it seems absolutely perfect for the described scenario. Sorry not sorry. I personally chose not to use Spotify at all, but I'm not going to fault anyone for using it with a thrid-party blocker. Even if Spotify didn't also do advertising the right way (e.g. branded playlists (I believe paying users get those too)), no one is obligated to subject themselves to personal…

I believe it's safe to assume that (1) You sell a product or service for which people pay you, or (2) You derive an income working for someone else that sells a product or service for which people pay, or that (3) You receive financial support from someone who is within one of the above. What happens to the food on your table when people take that product or service without giving you money for it?

> What happens to the food on your table when people take that product or service without giving you money for it?

Such business is not sustainable. It will shutdown and will free taken resources back into the economy.

Re: Spotify will now suspend or terminate accounts it finds are using ad blockers

#518

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you don't want to "subject yourself to personal harm" you can either not use the service or pay for the ad-free service. You don't have a right to use Spotify how you want. It's an online service, not a piece of personal property.

But I still have right to NOT use service provided by Spotify or and another third-party service, completely or partially.

You do NOT have a right to use the service "partially" (by blocking ads), as blocking ads on their free plan is against the ToS.

Re: Spotify will now suspend or terminate accounts it finds are using ad blockers

#519
post #413

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Using US prices, a black basic coffee is probably $2-3 at a coffee shop. Any size coffee is $1 at McDonald's 24/7. The quality is improving, too, so it's something to remember when you're traveling in unfamiliar territory.

Is that better than buying a pack of caffeine pills to travel with?

Yes. You get to interact with real people and stretch your legs.

Re: Spotify will now suspend or terminate accounts it finds are using ad blockers

#520
That's really not enough. There should be some kill signal, so that the operator on the other end is electrocuted, and/or their equipment is destroyed if they violate the Terms and Conditions. For example:

. Ad blocker usage

. Preventing telemetry / data funneling by using DNS blackholing or port blocking

. Anything else specified in the Terms and Conditions*

* - Which the user clicked Yes / OK / The Checkbox willingly, entering into a contract. They didn't have to, right?

Up to, and including physical harm and death. How are companies supposed to make any money? Doesn't everyone know the entire Internet would be non-existent without the ad-supported model? Don't be selfish. Submit!

Post reply on HN