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While this implementation obviously has privacy issues, the anonymized aggregate data would be quite interesting, e.g. how many people use photoshop, illustrato
by diffeomorphism 7y ago
While this implementation obviously has privacy issues, the anonymized aggregate data would be quite interesting, e.g. how many people use photoshop, illustrator, etc. with their wacom tablets.
The problem then seems to be more about the false positives. If you use "Half Life 3 Test Build" that is useless info for wacom because it (presumably) doesn't care about pen input.
Q: If the data were filtered to just art/graphics apps using the pen, would that still be problematic?
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- _jal 7y ago> would that still be problematic? Yes. When thinking about data, you need to think about orthogonal uses. Can you imagine reasons why someone might subpoena data to determine whether Photoshop was being used on my home desktop machines at a particular time? They might not care that it was Photoshop at all.
- diffeomorphism 7y agoAny data collection of course has a privacy cost and should of course be opt in. What about aggregate data limited to art apps? For example if it only sends a monthly summary: used photoshop with a wacom tablet for 15 hours this month, illustrator for 3 hours this month?
- harikb 7y agoIn that fictitious scenario, would they have checked with Adobe if they wouldn't mind their users spied up on. What if this information is indirectly used for trading on ADBE stock? Would that be considered OK ?
- diffeomorphism 7y agoCould you elaborate? Why would I as a user need permission from Adobe to tell wacom that I am using their tablet in photoshop? > What if this information is indirectly used for trading on ADBE stock? Would that be considered OK ? Obviously yes? What is supposed to be the issue here?
- _jal 7y agoI don't have an answer for you. I think any attempt to exfil data not required by the function of the tool should be clearly and transparently disclosed, the use of those disclosures backed by the force of law, and opt-in. This is obviously far from where we are. Because of that, I would block it no matter what. In a better world, I would selectively allow some instrumentation and such, but as-is, there is no way to trust any of it. So I'm the wrong person to ask.
- JohnFen 7y ago> What about aggregate data limited to art apps? Well with the proviso you stated that informed consent has been obtained first, then this would be fine (as would more frequent/less targeted collection). If not, then this is not fine.
- TheRealPomax 7y agoIf that's the kind of behavioural information they want, they can pay for it just like anyone else. That's the kind of data that should absolutely not be expected to be free.
- ryandrake 7y agoThe collection of the data is almost never what’s problematic. What’s problematic is the lack of transparency about what is being collected (doing it to users in secret or burying it in a privacy policy somewhere), and the lack of a way for the user to consent or not consent to it via an opt-in or opt-out. If the company provided these, then this is kind of a non-story.
- FireBeyond 7y agoIn this case, the author both found the information in the installer, and the apt has a "Opt out of Experience Sharing" privacy checkbox (which I would agree should be opt in, not out), so to me covers most of this.
- JohnFen 7y ago> Q: If the data were filtered to just art/graphics apps using the pen, would that still be problematic? Yes.