[Closed] Spotify will be stealing all your photos and contacts (probably)

If you use a proper mobile OS like iOS, the OS gives you proper control over what Apps can access, so you can stop an App seeing contacts etc.

If you use a proper mobile OS like iOS, the OS gives you proper control over what Apps can access, so you can stop an App seeing contacts etc.

[b]Local law may require that you seek the consent of your contacts to provide their personal information to Spotify[/b], which may use that information for the purposes specified in this Privacy Policy.” – Spotify

Nice.

Always wondered why Spotify was so slow to launch. Now I know it's only backing up my hard-drive into its cloud, I can rest easy.

I don't see the problem, most Apps try and access stuff like contacts eg WhatsApp, FB etc, I just bar them all in iOS and don't think twice about it.

Thanks Spotify, I may now have to move on.

Move on to what?, I suspect most streaming apps will operate similar policies,

Move on to what?, I suspect most streaming apps will operate similar policies,

If you use a proper mobile OS like iOS, the OS gives you proper control over what Apps can access, so you can stop an App seeing contacts etc.

You can do this on (some) Andorid phones too, wind yer creative type tatoed fixie riding hipster neck in fanboi. 😛

I presume it does it to cross reference your listening habits with fiends to suggest music based on their tastes too?

The speed/location thing is probably to work out what people like to listen to whilst driving, walking, on the train, cycling etc, or to pick out bands that are liked locally.

Relative to most 'free' apps, it's pretty non-sinister, at least they have a reasonable use for it beyond just farming it and selling it which is all most games are designed to do.

There are non-sinister reasons for them to need to access all the information that they're asking about and, as above, any streaming service is going to look at the same information.

“If you don’t agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, then please don’t use the Service.” – Spotify

wwaswwas; Spotify, like myself, won't be interested in numerous images of your genitals.
Stop send them please.

DrP

There are non-sinister reasons for them to need to access all the information that they're asking about and, as above, any streaming service is going to look at the same information.

Hey, don't worry, I'm in your home a 3am for non sinister reasons. I'm not stealing anything, I just want a look around. 😀

Ok no probs.

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So there's an opt in feature that let's the end user choose, no?

Yes, they can not instal the app.

Hey, don't worry, I'm in your home a 3am for non sinister reasons. I'm not stealing anything, I just want a look around.

If I've invited you into my home, you're welcome to have a look around. If I don't want you to look around, I'll not invite you in.

wow. do people really care that much? If you have a problem with it, just listen to the radio instead.

Some people think too much.

[i]Stop send them please.[/i]

Not until I see the safe word.

I know all these false protests are just part of the game 🙂

Yes, they can not instal the app.

[i]just listen to the radio instead.

Some people think too much. [/i]

You know that Spotify plays the music you choose, without chat around it, don't you?

The issue as above is that most people just accept t's and c's without reading them (why would you expect a streaming music service to access your photos or where your 10 year old's phone is?). If the information is available then an informed choice can be made - that's what I was trying to achieve.

Some people don't think enough.

Am I alone in not giving a shit?

Strange post drac.

Am I alone in not giving a shit?

Nope 🙂

Given what Google know about me, I don't think it matters that Spotify know too.

So if, say, we reach the point where the supermarkets only let you buy stuff if they check your phone and all your bank cards and whatever else, do we still say, oh, it's ok, because you have the option of not buying food?

why would you expect a streaming music service to access your photos or where your 10 year old's phone is?

I'm fairly sure spotify as a company doesn't GAS where your kids are, or has any intention of looking at photos of them. What it's probably doing is figuring out they're 10 years old and want to listen to Frozen on repeat rather than NWA. And that perhapse there's some update coming where you'll be able to share pics with friends on spotify like you can on Strava.

Did you know they can release chemicals through the keyboard too, they make you feel more suggestive.

If you don't like it, don't use it or turn it off in the app settings. Simple.

For the tinfoil hat brigade - a lot of apps have access to your contact details/photos/GPS data etc. usually for quite clever, useful things like finding your friends accounts, letting you post photos directly from the app, being able to tell if you're at home or out and about and adjusting the app accordingly.

So if, say, we reach the point where the supermarkets only let you buy stuff if they check your phone and all your bank cards and whatever else, do we still say, oh, it's ok, because you have the option of not buying food?

That's quite a leap from a music streaming app wanting to help you connect to your friends and match the bpm of your music to your running speed.

[i]or a tab being kept on which way they walk to school.[/i]

I wonder what the ratio of Spotify "spies" (ie. employees) to Spotify users is... what are the chances that it's [i]your[/i] kids they'll be watching? 😆

I don't stream, but this is not the reason why.

[i]Did you know they can release chemicals through the keyboard too, they make you feel more suggestive.[/i]

Have you taken over now jhj is on a ban?

so, Spotify might want to know that my 10 year old is at school and lots of other users of their service are in the same location and then produce some sort of targeted ad/suggestion based on the fact that their location is a secondary school, or whatever?

I'm not saying any of this is wrong the whole point is that unless people know that this type of data capture is happening they can't make an informed choice as to whether they accept it or not.

Also, as with stw, as a paying user of a service I think I should be able to exercise more choice about what information etc is shown to me and also collected from devices I use the service on.

[i]don't use it or turn it off in the app settings. Simple. [/i]

I think the whole point is that there is no option to turn it off within the Spotify app?

So if, say, we reach the point where the supermarkets only let you buy stuff if they check your phone and all your bank cards and whatever else, do we still say, oh, it's ok, because you have the option of not buying food?

What exactly do you think your Tesco clubcard actually does?

Which is scarier, spotify knowing that you like Natalie Imbruglia, or Tesco running a part of the NHS and knowing how much alcohol you drink and that you regularly get the 3am munchies with friends.

If you don't like it, don't use it or turn it off in the app settings. Simple.

For the tinfoil hat brigade -

sheeple

Eugh.

I'd rather be tin foil than brainless sheeple.

Personally I'd rather be neither.

Have you taken over now jhj is on a ban?

No I was just mocking you for your Paedogedon slant on a music app wanting to know who you are before recommending some music yo you.

[i]Paedogedon slant on a music app wanting to know who you are before recommending some music yo you[/i]

It was more the where than the who, surely 🙂

You'll be telling me that STW capture the IP address of everyone who posts on here next 🙄

Personally I'd rather be neither.

[i]What exactly do you think your Tesco clubcard actually does?[/i]

And [b]he[/b] knows you've got a Clubcard.. how? 😯

Am I alone in not giving a shit?

Not at all, I happily pay Spotify £10 a month. In fact, listening to Your Morning coffe playlist as I type.

I dont GAS if they are rooting around in my phone. I don't feel threatened or violated in anyway.

Strange post drac.

Yeah. I thought that, too.

I think he was calling wrecker a rebel. Arf.

Yeah, I got that. Just don't get how he arrived at that conclusion from Wrecker's post, though I'm starting to see a pattern in Drac's offerings that suggest he's just an [s]arse[/s] troll looking for a bite.

Anyway, not meant to derail it. Carry on...

It was more the where than the who, surely

I'm hypothesizing but if I lived in London I'd expect it to probably play me more up and coming bands that were in London or touring there shortly, ditto Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Leeds, wherever. Whether that's based on knowing where I am and where the bands from, or just from knowing where you are and where everyone else is to see what you've not listened to but everyone else has, it still needs to know your (and everyone else) location.

Similarly if you're mid 40's from the home counties and spend a disproportionate amount of time in Waitrose it will probably send you Nora Jones rather than East London Grime music.

Well I care.
I don't use Spotify but my dippy relatives do. Which means Spotify now have my email address, which I presume they will happily sell off. I have a couple of email address's. One I just use for friends and relatives in order to keep it spam free. However, despite only giving it to a few people, it regularly gets spam. I presume its nasty little apps like this, that other people are using, that's the reason why.

Yeah. I thought that, too.

Power to the People.

Not hard to work out really.

I don't use Spotify but my dippy relatives do. Which means Spotify now have my email address, which I presume they will happily sell off. I have a couple of email address's. One I just use for friends and relatives in order to keep it spam free. However, despite only giving it to a few people, it regularly gets spam. I presume its nasty little apps like this, that other people are using, that's the reason why.

If you've ever used that email address to contact someone with a gmail, hotmail, yahoo, etc. email address, then those companies have your email address.

Not hard to work out really.

You could've explained that without the above addition.

Also, why address me and not Wrecker as he made the first query...?

Yeah, but I can see why they need it. Spotify clearly don't need it.

You could've explained that without the above addition.

Also, why address me and not Wrecker as he made the first query...?

Dear me your sensitive.

I quoted you as you wondered too.

Dear me your sensitive.

My sensitive what...? You appear to have cut off mid sentence. 😉

Ooops!

Power to the People.

Not hard to work out really.

It wasn't meant it that way wrecker it was meant in giving it to the man, you know showing Spotify where to go by not subscribing or cancelling as some have suggested.

Yeh, I got that. It was a piss take (which I don't mind at all). It was just very strangely aimed considering the brief, non outraged post. As a value calculation (for me) it doesn't add up. No big deal, just deleted.

Good grief

And does the use of "sheeple" not apply the equivalent of Godwin?

It was just very strangely aimed considering the brief, non outraged post.

I really think you're looking too much into it.

I think I am. I just wondered if there was a deeper meaning that I didn't get.

No and sorry if it offended you it wasn't my intention.

The problem we have is that giving corporations access to a lot of information is useful; it allows them to do really cool things such as suggest us music (spotfiy) or give us money off the brand of butter we by most often (clubcard). But in giving them all this information we give them the information required to do something sinister. There doesn't seem to be suficient protection in law to stop people doing the sinister things or punish them when they do.

I suspect this is because we can't agree where the line between sinister and cool is. For some people Facebook sugesting friends to you based on trolling through people's phone books to spot connnections is cool to others it's sinister. But if facebook sold that phone number database it would definitely be not cool, or would it, what if they sold it to someone who would do cool rather than sinister things.

Basically with great power comes great responsibility.

No offense taken!

No offense taken!

[img] [/img]

I will laugh, and laugh, and laugh, at anyone saying "If you've nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear".

[i]I will laugh, and laugh, and laugh[/i]

Do it in private, or you might look a bit, you know.. mental.

Yeah, but I can see why they need it. Spotify clearly don't need it.

How about if the code looks something like this:
10 "Mrtimidwheeler.paranoid@hotmail.com" has spotify account move to 20 else move to 50.
20 crossreference music playlists
30 sugest to both what the other has listened to but they have not
40 inform relatives that he thinks they're "dippy" [i]as lonely people listen to more music to increace market share.[/i]
50 move to next e-mail address

http://www.theverge.com/2015/8/21/9186365/spotify-privacy-policy-app-permissions

[quote> http://www.theverge.com/2015/8/21/9186365/spotify-privacy-policy-app-permissions

Nothing that we didn't already know or already be actioning. What the article doesn't say is that "with your permission" is a condition of using the service.
So we're back to square one, if you don't like this permission, don't download the app.
I'm happy with that, but I'm sure there's plenty out there who are not aware.

Mrstimidwheeler.patronised@Donthaveaspotifyaccount.co.uk, still doesn't feel that Spotify have any right to have my email address.
I think you are a little naive. If it really is that innocent then why not make it easy for people to opt out.

I think you are a little naive. If it really is that innocent then why not make it easy for people to opt out.

If Spotify has innocuous or (depressingly this seems unlikely) genuinely customer-focused reasons for gathering this information, why don't they specify them in their privacy policy? Instead of saying "we have the right to track your location and movements", they could say "we have the right to track your location and movements in order to suggest geographically-relevant and activity-relevant music to you, but we will not use this information for any other purposes".

That may produce a longer privacy policy and take a tiny bit more time to write (compared to the development time of the technologies required) but it would at least help reduce the feeling that they're scraping all the data they can get and using it in any way they reckon might make them a fast buck.

If it really is that innocent then why not make it easy for people to opt out

It is easy to opt out. You have to accept the Ts&Cs but the Ts&Cs aren't asking for permision. They are saying "if you give us permission then we will use your stuff in ways outlined here". In iOS you will still need to actually allow Spotify to access your stuff and AFAIK Android is the same.

So you can sign the Ts&Cs which gives Spoify permission to use your data, but then not give them that data.

The issue isn't that Spotify have some sinister agenda, or even that they might sell data. It's that startups and social networks repeatedly pile up vast amounts of private data while demonstrating an extremely blasé attitude toward privacy and what happens to that data in the future.

Facebook and Uber have been some of the biggest offenders so far. Uber (at least in the past) have let any employee access customer data and have broadcast certain people's locations in realtime at public events. Facebook, despite having to be audited over privacy by the US government every year until sometime in the 2020's, because of how badly they've abused confidential user information before, are still ultimately in the business of selling that data to other people and forever poking at the boundaries of what's legal.

Loads of other startups are piling up the data with little regard for edge cases. Outside of startups, there are (for instance) free torch apps on Google Play that ask for a ridiculous number of permissions during installation, then harvest data and pass it on to the developer for sale. All of these things expose not only your own data, but anyone's data you happen to have a copy of.

These things aren't a massive a threat at all for most of us, and probably won't become so, but the things they do with data can become a massive threat to vulnerable people. If you think for a second you, one of your friends or family couldn't become vulnerable or have a need for privacy within the course of a few days or hours, then you're naïve at best.

Ah, looks like a climb down/'what we really meant was blog;

[i]A blog post by Spotify CEO Daniel Ek[/i]

[url= https://news.spotify.com/us/2015/08/21/sorry-2/ ]https://news.spotify.com/us/2015/08/21/sorry-2/[/url]

It's all a bit

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Badly worded press releases like the original one can cost companies dear. I deleted spotify today, I wonder how many others did?
Kudos to the CEO for picking it up, I wonder how the meeting went with the author of the original "If you don’t agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, then please don’t use the Service" person?

I think you are a little naive. If it really is that innocent then why not make it easy for people to opt out.

When it goes live, as it's not yet, they may just have that option.

I may be missing the point entirely here, but simply having a phone with contacts, pictures, whatever in it, means somebody out there has access to your movements and anything you've got on your phone. Why are people suddenly up in arms about this? It seems to be the trade off for having a super duper smart phone with all kinds of fancy apps.

If you're that much of a para wreck that this concerns you then you probably need to regress a bit, technology wise.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

If you're that much of a para wreck that this concerns you then you probably need to regress a bit, technology wise.

What makes you think that people who don't want their address books rifled through or their photos accessed are para wrecks?

Because its all floating about out there anyway. If it bothers you that much revert back to a pen and a physical address book

Because its all floating about out there anyway. If it bothers you that much revert back to a pen and a physical address book

Welcome to the future. It's big data init. Its just going to get bigger and more pervasive as the years go by. About 99.9? of people don't even know it happens. Just have a look at all the permissions the new windows 10 has switched on by defaut now...you either go with the flow and accept it, and hope another Hitler doesn't come to power 😆 or take yourself offline. No real other alternative. Pissing against the wind would be more successful.

I may be missing the point entirely here, but simply having a phone with contacts, pictures, whatever in it, means somebody out there has access to your movements and anything you've got on your phone.

Phone companies and governments aren't run by a bunch of indiscreet rich kids who think office slides are the shit.