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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[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Eternity for lemmy has been my dream ever since I had used Infinity for Reddit. Thank God it's open source, this is great

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Doesn't this just mean storing necessary information required to make the service work? For example, you can't log in to a website without storing some information and a cookie, etc.

That would fall under legitimate and necessary to me.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Yeah ouch, you can easily block the ads but I was still going to pay to support the dev, but not until this is clarified.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It's been clarified. The dev confirmed in this comment that ad trackers & data collection are removed when you pay ($3.49) to remove ads: https://lemmy.world/comment/3811201

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I use a root based adblocker on my phone, and I didn't get this popup at all. I enjoyed the original Boost for Reddit app enough to have paid the whole 3โ‚ฌ for it a while ago, and today, the familiar design, UI, and extensive features feel more comfortable to me than other apps, though I don't spend that much time on lemmy either

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

This frustrates me Both sides of this Like it's ok to disagree but stop being a asshole about it

I've got no problem with the genuine debate and discussion

But damn stop being so hateful and be civil

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

These app developers didn't know that the demographics on Lemmy are a bit different than on Reddit. we care a bit more about privacy over here. so get your shit together.

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