I believe this is the part: _“In order to understand the usage across the Plex ecosystem and how we need to improve, Plex will continue to collect usage statistics, such as device type, duration, bit rate, media format, resolution, and media type (music, photos, videos, etc.). We will no longer allow the option to opt out of this statistics collection.”
They don’t need to know this information in this format especially from paying customers. I will be more than happy to have them send me an e-mail poll asking those questions but not a constant collection of information.
If it was just this part:
“Again, we will not collect any information that identifies libraries, files, file names, and/or the specific content stored on your privately hosted Plex Media Servers. The only exception to this is when, and only to the extent, you use Plex with third-party services such as Sonos, Alexa, webhooks, and Last.fm._”
I wouldn’t have any issues with it as I just wouldn’t use those functions.
@Qcontent said:
I know I will get blasted for this, but really…and respectfully…(lol) You guys are a bunch of babies. It literally has no effect on you. What exactly is it you have to keep private in your “secret” statistics?
I have to say that I agree with this. What harm can it make to have your viewing habits being part of statistics sent to Plex? I honestly don’t get it.
I actually think of it the other way; they (Plex) prioritizes their effort based on what the majority of their users uses right. So, why wouldn’t you want to be part of this and, so to say, “cast your vote”? For this reason alone, I always had collecting turned on anyway.
Ok, noted. We’re not trying to change your minds, so best of luck to you. @Qcontent, @d2freak not much more for you to add here other than threadcrapping.
I didn’t realize this was a dissent free zone.
Maybe PLEX 'aint for you anymore. Honestly, the product is better off without people so sensitive (worried?) that they would feel the need to leave solely based on the collection of statistics.
were you guys really naive to think PLEX would never change their policy at some point? PLEX does deserve some backlash on not providing this on their other media platforms along with Email, I’ll give you that. Like PLEX couldn’t post this on their BLOG… where NEWS happens… Like, WTF? But like EVERY CONSUMER product and service out there in the world did you honestly think this was going to last forever? Don’t tell me Emby and Kodi won’t do this either cuz Emby being a consumer product will also flip on a coin if they also had a financial gain in exchange for data. Don’t lie to yourselves.
For those saying “only a handful of people care”, then why remove the opt-out feature? It’s turned on by default, so why can’t those of us who are privacy conscious have an option to opt out? If we are truly the vocal minority, then there should be no reason to remove it, as they should already be getting the statistics they need from the masses who don’t opt-out.
The fact that they’re forcing this on everyone is, to me, telling of their future plans. They want to force everyone into their collection, so that when they “tweak” the privacy policy again next year, they can collect even more information without as much backlash.
“We’re trying to really understand with a lot of humility what those publishers are doing, and trying to work with them in order to preserve the quality of their content, and the quality of their monetization right now,” Farano says.
“We think there’s an opportunity to go in and say, ‘Look, we come at this from a humble place. We want you, the content publisher, to be our customer, and we want to do what’s right for you.’”
This being in Feb of 2017, this article translated in my head as
From PLEX to their future content partners:
“We want to give you a platform where we have lots of customers waiting for you… we mean their data.”
From PLEX to the consumer:
“We haven’t found a way just yet to step on our consumers without getting screwed ourselves, but by watching others we will find our way eventually.”
Today isn’t the day I pick a fight with PLEX on my privacy. I’m a consumer. I consume. PLEX wants access to my library. The same access that I agree to with Netflix when I’m watching their content, which now apparently reports to Nielsen. The DVR and recording portion is VERY similar to what Nielsen already does. I’ve also seen this from a BUSINESS perspective as perhaps this will or has opened up new features they already said was in the works since February. None of this is news to me but perhaps others. Who here likes someone telling you the bad news on a Friday? This was written in the cards before today and I think it was foolish of anyone for the matter to think otherwise. PLEX, like marriage… is no longer about passion, it’s about business.
@Qcontent said:
I know I will get blasted for this, but really…and respectfully…(lol) You guys are a bunch of babies. It literally has no effect on you. What exactly is it you have to keep private in your “secret” statistics?
I have to say that I agree with this. What harm can it make to have your viewing habits being part of statistics sent to Plex? I honestly don’t get it.
I actually think of it the other way; they (Plex) prioritizes their effort based on what the majority of their users uses right. So, why wouldn’t you want to be part of this and, so to say, “cast your vote”? For this reason alone, I always had collecting turned on anyway.
For the same reason that I don’t want the federal government “bulk collecting metadata”. Privacy is a pretty simple concept.
By the way, are all of the copies of media that you have being used with plex acquired and kept in a manner that is in accordance with copyright laws?
@Qcontent said:
I know I will get blasted for this, but really…and respectfully…(lol) You guys are a bunch of babies. It literally has no effect on you. What exactly is it you have to keep private in your “secret” statistics?
I have to say that I agree with this. What harm can it make to have your viewing habits being part of statistics sent to Plex? I honestly don’t get it.
I actually think of it the other way; they (Plex) prioritizes their effort based on what the majority of their users uses right. So, why wouldn’t you want to be part of this and, so to say, “cast your vote”? For this reason alone, I always had collecting turned on anyway.
Ok, noted. We’re not trying to change your minds, so best of luck to you. @Qcontent, @d2freak not much more for you to add here other than threadcrapping.
I didn’t realize this was a dissent free zone.
Maybe PLEX 'aint for you anymore. Honestly, the product is better off without people so sensitive (worried?) that they would feel the need to leave solely based on the collection of statistics.
Maybe we can go live with the savages in the reservation, while you stay with the civilized folk and snort 5 grams of soma.
After all, a gram is better than a damn, right Lenina?
@PLEX
I do not consent to these changes. I will now put into affect active blocking of Plex servers that receive this data. I will also be opening a ticket with Canada’s PIPEDA privacy legislation, as any and all collected data, especially identifiable data MUST be given an option opt out.
And yes Plex, I WILL take to reddit to lambast you for these changes
I’ll be making firewall rules immediately to block traffic to plex from my server, I’ll find another way to update. If you guys get clever, I’ll sniff the traffic and find out where it’s going, and then I’ll make specific guides to plaster all over reddit to help users circumvent the “data collection”/spying.
I’m going to get my money’s worth on that plex pass. I don’t ■■■■ around.
Please do. Twitter, reddit, Facebook, and the media need to know about this. We are paying users who are being sold off to the highest bidder. Lifetime subscribing loyal users scammed out of our data.
I’m really not ok with this… For things like Netflix I’m signing up to stream their content so I get it and if I don’t like it I can walk away
You’re removing the ability for me to watch my own content using a product I already paid for and since you moved authentication to your servers I bet the next news will be some mandatory update that breaks sign on via old apps
I won’t be updating and will be looking for alternatives… Thanks for all the fish and best luck to you and your new corporate overlords
@Qcontent said:
I know I will get blasted for this, but really…and respectfully…(lol) You guys are a bunch of babies. It literally has no effect on you. What exactly is it you have to keep private in your “secret” statistics?
I have to say that I agree with this. What harm can it make to have your viewing habits being part of statistics sent to Plex? I honestly don’t get it.
I actually think of it the other way; they (Plex) prioritizes their effort based on what the majority of their users uses right. So, why wouldn’t you want to be part of this and, so to say, “cast your vote”? For this reason alone, I always had collecting turned on anyway.
Ok, noted. We’re not trying to change your minds, so best of luck to you. @Qcontent, @d2freak not much more for you to add here other than threadcrapping.
I didn’t realize this was a dissent free zone.
Maybe PLEX 'aint for you anymore. Honestly, the product is better off without people so sensitive (worried?) that they would feel the need to leave solely based on the collection of statistics.
Ah yes, the good old ad hominem: “if you can’t attack their argument, attack the person.”
We’re not asking for Plex to make major changes that would negatively affect the majority of their user base. We’re asking for them to retain the ability to opt-out of the collection of what we believe is private information.
“Again, we will not collect any information that identifies libraries, files, file names, and/or the specific content stored on your privately hosted Plex Media Servers. The only exception to this is when, and only to the extent, you use Plex with third-party services such as Sonos, Alexa, webhooks, and Last.fm.”
Of course let’s all jump off the deep end here. I have no issue with this and couldn’t care less and I have a $75 lifetime subscription too. If one doesn’t like the policy change (as so many companies are constantly updating their policies as well), one could always switch to Kodi. I run both myself.
@audiomixer said:
“Again, we will not collect any information that identifies libraries, files, file names, and/or the specific content stored on your privately hosted Plex Media Servers. The only exception to this is when, and only to the extent, you use Plex with third-party services such as Sonos, Alexa, webhooks, and Last.fm.”
Of course let’s all jump off the deep end here. I have no issue with this and couldn’t care less and I have a $75 lifetime subscription too. If one doesn’t like the policy change (as so many companies are constantly updating their policies as well), one could always switch to Kodi. I run both myself.
Oh good to know they won’t be collecting any identifying info’
But damn, where have I heard that before… oh right! Section 215 of the patriot act.
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, well you ain’t gonna fool me again, heh heh heh.
@Qcontent said:
I know I will get blasted for this, but really…and respectfully…(lol) You guys are a bunch of babies. It literally has no effect on you. What exactly is it you have to keep private in your “secret” statistics?
I have to say that I agree with this. What harm can it make to have your viewing habits being part of statistics sent to Plex? I honestly don’t get it.
I actually think of it the other way; they (Plex) prioritizes their effort based on what the majority of their users uses right. So, why wouldn’t you want to be part of this and, so to say, “cast your vote”? For this reason alone, I always had collecting turned on anyway.
Ok, noted. We’re not trying to change your minds, so best of luck to you. @Qcontent, @d2freak not much more for you to add here other than threadcrapping.
I didn’t realize this was a dissent free zone.
Maybe PLEX 'aint for you anymore. Honestly, the product is better off without people so sensitive (worried?) that they would feel the need to leave solely based on the collection of statistics.
LOL, I thought I smelled troll a mile away. While we stay on topic why don’t you take a break and have a seat, matter of fact, have two seats.
Anyways…who could argue that nonconsensual customer data harvesting is a GOOD thing?
