this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2023
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Boost For Lemmy

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This is not ok (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

Saw this today and now I'm reconsidering if Boost is right for me. I'm really hoping this is shitty boiler plate that was accidentally copied and over looked because that is some bullshit to say "unless we decide we want to use your personal data for whatever we want".

I know "legitimate interest" is a phrase from the cookies law but there is no legitimate interest justification for this. My data is my data and I decide who has a legitimate interest in it so advertisers can fuck off, as can Boost if this the direction it's going.


Edit to say this blew up. I didn't realise I was kicking as big a hornet's nest and haven't read all the comments yet.

To be clear, what I don't like about this and other provisions in the terms is the language and implications around data use. I've no problem with ads being shown - I want developers to get paid for the work they do and that makes it possible for users to have "free" access to software if they can't afford to purchase.

I also want to add the response from Boost's dev below to make sure it's visible. You'll see that it is boilerplate but required by Google and was present in Boost for reddit. I just hadn't seen it because I purchased it immediately based on a recommendation. It doesn't make me happy about it but does remove some doubts I was having about the direction Boost is heading.

I will be purchasing the app to support the dev because I do like Boost but I understand not everyone can afford everything so you'll see some other suggestions in the comments below that don't have any ads if you're not happy with the free version and ads with their associated loss of data privacy.


Dev here.

The dialog and its content is not created by me, it is a standard solution from Google to comply with GDPR and other laws. More info here: https://support.google.com/admob/answer/10114014?hl=en

The consent dialog is also required by Google AdMob to show ads, and it is shown when the ad network is initialized.

When the app launches, first it checks for the remove ads purchase, and if it is not present, it will initialize the ads sdk. The ad network is not initialized if the remove ads purchase is detected.

Boost for Reddit was using the very same ad networks and consent dialog.

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[–] [email protected] 707 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (30 children)

Dev here.

The dialog and its content is not created by me, it is a standard solution from Google to comply with GDPR and other laws. More info here: https://support.google.com/admob/answer/10114014?hl=en

The consent dialog is also required by Google AdMob to show ads, and it is shown when the ad network is initialized.

When the app launches, first it checks for the remove ads purchase, and if it is not present, it will initialize the ads sdk. The ad network is not initialized if the remove ads purchase is detected.

Boost for Reddit was using the very same ad networks and consent dialog.

[–] [email protected] 145 points 1 year ago (3 children)

This is the app creator everyone.

[–] [email protected] 55 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He doesn't know anything, I know Boost better!

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[–] [email protected] 86 points 1 year ago (42 children)

With the hate here, even after you explained, I am starting to think these FOSS heads are going to kill Lemmy.

Instead of just using any other app, they are attacking you. What a great way to push any future devs away. Lemmy will continue to be a weird little FOSS niche if the FOSS users don't stop soiling their diapers over nothing.

[–] [email protected] 73 points 1 year ago (3 children)

It's honestly a huge turn off to Lemmy writ large. Look at what happened when Dawson released Sync.

A few weeks ago someone posted to c/techsupport with an issue with their Office install. Every. Single. Comment. was "uSe LiBrEoFfIcE” or something to that effect, some going as far as to insult the OP for asking a tech support question in the tech support forum, because MiCrOsOfT bAaAaAd.

I was the only one to offer a real solution. If I were that OP, I wouldn't come back to Lemmy.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 year ago (31 children)

Damn, that's really frustrating, and literally doesn't help one bit. Even if OP wanted to switch.

I use LibreOffice because I keep spreadsheets of my vehicle kilometres and whatnot, but my girlfriend, who works in a professional setting, would never be able to use anything other than Microsoft Office. The compatibility, features, etc. make nothing else a viable alternative, unless you're keeping stupid at home spreadsheets like I am.

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[–] [email protected] 50 points 1 year ago

Your time is worth a few bucks. Happily removed ads immediately after download. Thank you for your work brother! Good to be back!

[–] [email protected] 46 points 1 year ago

Well look at that, a simple logical explanation.

Oh and thank you sir for your app. I went to paid version before i even loaded any content. I look forward to it's future

There are plenty of more justified directions we can go with pitchforks and torches for sure my friends.

[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 year ago

This should be pinned.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Thank you for clarifying this.

I also apologize if this post has hurt Boost - I didn't think it would get a fraction of the visibility it did or even the reactions it did. I edited to add your explanation to make sure anybody who reads it going forward has the full story.

You've done great work on Boost. I really enjoyed the Reddit version and look forward to seeing what you do with it, so thank you.

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Put this text in that popup. It explains everything.

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[–] [email protected] 299 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Wife : "Promise you won't have sex with my sister".

Husband : " I won't have sex with your sister under any circumstances, (quiet part); unless I have a legitimate interest in doing so."

[–] [email protected] 51 points 1 year ago

Unity: unilaterally, retroactively, and silently amends prenup so that it technically allows sleeping with wife’s sister

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[–] [email protected] 227 points 1 year ago (5 children)

legitimate interest is a shitty data privacy loophole

[–] [email protected] 103 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Hi could you give me your name, address, social security number, browser history, sickness history, political affiliation, sexual orientation, pay grade please πŸ₯Ί

I have a legitimate interest! It's identity theft

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[–] [email protected] 56 points 1 year ago (3 children)

It's a clause within GDPR which is usually misinterpreted and sometimes (as is most probably the case here) abused.

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[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Well the "loophole" exists for a reason.

For example my company requires the position and some identifier of people to do what people use our system for (tracking logistics units, and there is an option to do that via a mobile app for smallest clients not owning dedicated hardware). That's what legitimate interest is about. Or well, is supposed to be about. Some data processing is the point of some applications, and hence they would naturally not be usable without processing that personal data.

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[–] [email protected] 122 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Since there have been a few posts and comments about this and people are speculating

@[email protected]

https://lemmy.world/u/rmayayo

Could you clarify how the ads trackers and privacy policy works? Does it all go away when you pay for no ads?

[–] [email protected] 179 points 1 year ago (3 children)

The consent dialog is required by Google AdMob to show ads, and it is shown when the ad network is initialized.

When the app launches, first it checks for the remove ads purchase, and if it is not present, it will initialize the ads sdk. The ad network is not initialized if the remove ads purchase is detected.

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[–] [email protected] 99 points 1 year ago (31 children)

I'm kind of confused how this is so controversial or unexpected. You're using commercial software for free, ad support should be expected. It definitely sounded like and was confirmed to be out of the dev's hands, it's Google's ad platform. If you can spend $3.50 USD to remove ads it's not a concern.

I love free software but people also need to feed their families. This guy chose software as a way to do that. Being opposed to ads is great but either cough up the 3.50 for an app you'll likely use thousands of hours or don't. Don't shame the guy for allowing it to also be used "free" with ads.

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[–] [email protected] 97 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Not being FOSS disqualifies any lemmy client for me, I dont want a client that undermines what I like about the platform.

[–] [email protected] 53 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Ditto. I'm on Jerboa and loving the ad-free experience.

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[–] [email protected] 94 points 1 year ago (7 children)

Funny I'm seeing this after me googling what legitimate interest meant.

A user should be able to turn off legitimate interest cookies.

I also considered checking out Boost, but this is definitely a deal-breaker to me.

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[–] [email protected] 92 points 1 year ago (11 children)

Tis is not not ok, actually. I'm a software dev for a European company. I'm briefed by our lawyers.

"Legitimate use" isn't just a phrase from cookie law, it has a very specific meaning.

What's legitimate use? Well, any data I necessarily have to store for our business relation I can store. For as long as I need it. For example: You want me to send you something? Gonna need to store your address. After I sent the package I don't have any need for your address any more so I'd need your explicit consent to store it longer.

Another example for what is considered personal data: IP addresses. Which I store for as long as you watch my site, so that would be another example for a legitimate reason to store personal data.

Still I don't get why they display this banner. To my knowledge it's not necessary to inform the user about storage for legitimate reasons.

All that said, there's plenty of examples of companies illegitimately storing personal data, google is a good example they were sued only yesterday (fitbit)

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[–] [email protected] 89 points 1 year ago (1 children)

lmfao "trust me bro" as terms of service

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[–] [email protected] 89 points 1 year ago (6 children)
[–] [email protected] 54 points 1 year ago (9 children)

I honestly can't understand why in a world of open source alternatives, one would be OK with an option that shows you ads in exchange for spying on you

[–] [email protected] 54 points 1 year ago (35 children)

I don't know any open source client that is even remotely as nice to use as Boost. Also, it's not like the developer is actively spying on you, that's just the default AdMob popup Google is now forced to show (They simply didn't ask for any kind of consent in the past).

Anyway, I simply paid a few bucks for ad-free Boost.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Eternity, forked from Infinity for Reddit, is in a really good place and open source. I highly recommend it.

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[–] [email protected] 88 points 1 year ago (40 children)

Knee jerk responses like this are why Lemmy seems doomed to stagnate and die. And this is coming from someone who used to be all in. Utterly tired of the mob of goofs that think everything should be developed for free and anyone that tries to make a legitimate living in this space is an evil bastard.

[–] [email protected] 52 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Same crap with people brigading Sync too. Like, I don't get the mindset. I work for my money, I get to decide how to spend it. I'm happy to use some of that money to give to someone who is earning it by creating a product that I love using every single day. That's not wrong, that is how things work. Everything can't just be free, nothing would get made like that.

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[–] [email protected] 75 points 1 year ago

Dev here.

Ads don’t need user data.

Programmatic ads need user data.

There are more ad types than programmatic.

Programmatic ads pay the highest.

I don’t think it’s right to blame GDPR on this.

[–] [email protected] 66 points 1 year ago (11 children)

Voyager and Jerboa are both good options if this bothers you. I didn't have to agree to any permissions when I installed both as no data is collected. No ads too!

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[–] [email protected] 54 points 1 year ago

Oof...bad look boost

[–] [email protected] 53 points 1 year ago (14 children)

Legit interest = We want to make money

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[–] [email protected] 49 points 1 year ago (6 children)

I love how they say "Legitimate Interest", normally they say "Legal Reason" or "To comply with law enforcement" or something that makes it clear the rule would only be broken under extraneous circumstances.

But "Legitimate Interest", mother fucker, you wouldn't even be asking if I wanted to to opt out if you didn't already have a "Legitimate Interest" in monetizing every aspect of life. One of these days we're gonna get cybernetic implants that block our lungs off unless we watch a five second ad, because somehow that's a law now.

Cheese and fucking rice!

[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

No, "legitimate interest" is a specific phrase from the law. It's worded that way for a reason, they have little wiggle room in that regard. It's related to the primary function the entity in question wants to perform.

Like, if you're serving ads, you for example need to read the language of someone's browser. And depending on how you route and serve content, you might need to intermittently store that as part of a session. That is legitimate interest, or one example of it at least.

There are basically three tiers to online tracking:

  • Without this, this would not work at all.
  • This makes sense to meaningfully run this service, even though on paper it would technically work without.
  • This is anything extra on top.

Legitimate interest is the middle one. You need to ask consent, but you can presume consent. And sure, companies abuse this as it's intentionally not strictly worded, but many many companies also do not abuse it.

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[–] [email protected] 41 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I know there's a lot that has gone down in this thread, but I think everyone needs to remember why we are here in the first place. We're here because we want to be able to use any app we want.

If you're fine with this data usage, use Boost. If you're not comfortable with it, use Jerboa. If there's a killer feature you want from Boost, add it to Jerboa yourself or pay to remove the ads.

We have the choice between multiple apps with different compromises. What makes Lemmy so great is that they allow you to pick the client you want. Nobody here is forced to accept these terms in order to use Lemmy.

Though, saying that, maybe it would be better to make this clearer somewhere. But it's a beta product, and this is the kind of thing you learn from them.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 year ago (1 children)

"I promise to not punch you in the face, unless I wanna."

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[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 year ago

ITT: It's ok

[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 year ago (13 children)

Over 300 comments.....I've never even seen so many in boost subreddit wtf. Did everyone from lemmy come here?

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