@aufiomixer i think this is not a refund, i think this may lead to a backsettelment of the contract, at least in Europe, as far as i understand the law.
Not cool and totally unacceptable. Collecting anonymized data without an op-out MIGHT be acceptable but making it identifiable by including my IP address - NO F…ING WAY.
Sigh. I’m not sighing because of the change in policy, I’m sighing because of the visceral reactions in this thread. You guys need to be clear on what you are revolting about:
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They know some meta data about your media. Meh. What’s the big deal here? The data that used to be ‘opt-in’ is the only data that will help them actually improve the platform. My Plex servers are full of 1080p MKVs (Blu-ray rips), 1080p60fps MTS (home videos), FLAC audio, and JPGs. Woo hoo!
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They know your viewing patterns (when you watch and for how long). If anything this is more valuable to them than info about your media. “Hey, you watch stuff on your Plex server every evening for 4 hours during prime time” . That could be very valuable in aggregate but probably isn’t worth a crap to anyone at the individual user level.
So, in an ideal world would I like them to continue with a offline experience and no information sharing? Sure but Plex as it stands today can’t really work in a vacuum anymore. That bridge was crossed a long time ago with PlexPass and I’m fine with it. I want to see them continue to improve the platform and I’m willing to give them the rope needed to do so. I know where my line in the sand is on privacy and this change in policy isn’t crossing it for me.
Every week, if not every day, there’s a new thing pushing me to Emby.
If I didn’t have a lifetime Plexpass, I’d be long gone… Unless things change real soon, as soon as I have the disposable income I’ll buy a lifetime emby premiere license. There are issues there too, but at least the devs answer on the forums and try to fix things.
To paraphrase a great movie line…
Your standing in a puddle of ■■■■ Plex and you dont have the boots for it…
I remember when this was an open project… I and others contributed time and effort to it…
Then your took OUR collective work and said. Ok now your have to pay for it…
So we bought plex passes…
And now you are selling us out… you are scum…
Its all over reddit it and social already and I am sure this boneheaded move will cost you more in revenue than it brings in…
@audiomixer said:
Hi audiomixer, I went ahead and made a thread for folks who are generally positive and/or don’t care about these changes: https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/283784/discussion-thread-for-users-who-are-ok-with-the-pending-privacy-policy-data-collection-change
I’m sure your thoughts and wisdom will be very welcome and useful in getting that discussion going!
Perhaps the Plex team could provide a few raw/verbose log samples of the metrics they’ll be collecting… Let the community see the data and folks can make their own educated decision based on real data versus speculation.
Does anyone have any other suggestions other than Emby? I will be banishing Plex from my household.
Or at the very least I will be creating a Plex VM that does nothing but play a 10 pixel by 10 pixel 24 hour movie 24/7/365 just to screw with their statistics 
@adambahe said:
Does anyone have any other suggestions other than Emby? I will be banishing Plex from my household.Or at the very least I will be creating a Plex VM that does nothing but play a 10 pixel by 10 pixel 24 hour movie 24/7/365 just to screw with their statistics
It’s pretty much Emby or Kodi if you’re looking for something as sofisticated
@nathanexplosion said:
@audiomixer said:
Hi audiomixer, I went ahead and made a thread for folks who are generally positive and/or don’t care about these changes: https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/283784/discussion-thread-for-users-who-are-ok-with-the-pending-privacy-policy-data-collection-change
I’m sure your thoughts and wisdom will be very welcome and useful in getting that discussion going!
Have fun with that.
@nathanexplosion said:
@audiomixer said:
Hi audiomixer, I went ahead and made a thread for folks who are generally positive and/or don’t care about these changes: https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/283784/discussion-thread-for-users-who-are-ok-with-the-pending-privacy-policy-data-collection-change
I’m sure your thoughts and wisdom will be very welcome and useful in getting that discussion going!
So you don’t want discussion in this thread? Well that ain’t going to happen. I do not know about others BUT I feel free to post in ANY thread where I feel I have a contribution to make. Of course no one has to read my post nor do they have to respond to my ideas.
I have earlier expressed my feeling that the policy change seems, on the surface, to have no real impact for me BUT I will need to reexamine that initial feeling in a few days/weeks to be sure that my initial feelings are confirmed.
To those considering Emby: I keep Emby installed and updated on a computer just in case something happens to Plex. It links to the same library as my Plex. I do NOT keep it running at all times but rather activate it from time to time to keep it updated and current with my content.
Over the last couple of days I have had Emby active and have tested it some and I can still say that functionally it lags well behind Plex and it has just as many, if different, bug and unfinished features. Emby’s Roku client even has a serious bug where the “play” button will not start a video.
One more thing about any company’s “Privacy Policy.” It is just words and there is little that anyone can do to even check what info, if any, a program collects and shares. Also most of the policies we agree to when singing up have a clause to the effect of, “This policy may be updated or added to at any time at the sole discretion of CompanyNameHere.” This basically means that Plex, or whatever company is involved, can change the policy anytime and we gave them permission to do so when we signed up in the first place.
Of course anyone can, and even should, do if they cannot tolerate any change to the policies is stop using that product as many have said they will do with Plex. But taking such a decision too quickly often results in regret or having to backpedal on the decision and for me right now is too soon.
However I do STRONGLY agree that the “opt out” should be reinstated and I think that it is VERY shortsighted and even STUPID of Plex to remove it.
Lastly I hope my views are not offensive to anyone but they are MY views and they are as legitimate and at least as valuable as those held anyone else and the other way around as well.
I’m really bothered that they’d dump this on us on “trash day”, just before the weekend, so they wouldn’t have to deal with it. I haven’t been here long, two years, and I recently moved to the lifetime sub thinking “what could go wrong”. I have most of my family setup and using this service, which I will no longer be able to recommend with these changes. It’s frustrating to have to migrate everything away from such a great platform, but it seems you’ve become toxic. Good luck hanging onto your community with these changes.
excerpt from ELAN on Reddit:
[–]ElanFeingoldPlex CTO 2 points 37 minutes ago
“You’re not providing us “telemetry that makes it trivial to fingerprint what we’re watching”.
We’re specifically NOT collecting data which makes it possible for us to figure out what you’re watching.
WE DON’T WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WATCHING! (It would be a terrible idea on many levels)”
go on Reddit to read the drama
@audiomixer said:
@nathanexplosion said:
@audiomixer said:
Hi audiomixer, I went ahead and made a thread for folks who are generally positive and/or don’t care about these changes: https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/283784/discussion-thread-for-users-who-are-ok-with-the-pending-privacy-policy-data-collection-change
I’m sure your thoughts and wisdom will be very welcome and useful in getting that discussion going!
Have fun with that.
Ah, so you are intent to just troll here. Good to know!
A Plex Pass Subscription was NOT noted, that I recall, as being a “subscription” to run the software, rather, to receive early plex pass releases that would later be offered to non-subscribers. That said. In what world do you feel you are entitled to receive ANY information from MY server on MY hardware over the internet connection that comes from MY checking account?
Are you f***king serious? No honestly…
I banked on Plex, follower since XBMC days. Now kicking myself in the family jewels for not buying a lifetime Emby. So all these years of us being your peons, your guinea pigs and now you believe you are entitled to ANY of MY information. And please, the “statistical data” goes over as well as those “survey calls” which quickly lead to telemarketing.
Because these changes are so drastic and forced upon us, I wouldn’t be surprise if a class action lawsuit takes place. I suppose you’ve (Plex, the now “elite”) consulted with your attorneys, I do indeed hope they’re the best money can buy.
I’m absolutely livid about this. I’m rather curious, is this retroactive to previous versions? That is to say, if I simply don’t upgrade will I still retain my FULL privacy by being able to continue to opt out? I do hope the answer is yes, otherwise, I don’t believe you’ll have a legal leg to stand on during that class action…
Canceled my Plex pass subscription as well, Plex you’re making a terrible mistake, please change it back or I’ll have to leave as well. I was just about to go lifetime, I guess this news came at a good time, thanks for showing your true colors.
Looks like I will be dropping Plex too. Data collection along with the deliberate removal of a way to OPT OUT is going to cause a massive backlash. Also, IDK why but for some reason in my mind , I’m thinking that the lack of an option to opt out of personal data collection without user permission is illegal. ISPs and other companies are required to give the ability to opt out of tracking, collection, and targeting. IDK could be wrong but owell… Plex = Cancelled
@Elijah_Baley said:
The thread mentioned in that comment was generated for the reasons noted in said comment; that comment wasn’t directed towards you.
@nathanexplosion said:
@audiomixer said:
@nathanexplosion said:
@audiomixer said:
Hi audiomixer, I went ahead and made a thread for folks who are generally positive and/or don’t care about these changes: https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/283784/discussion-thread-for-users-who-are-ok-with-the-pending-privacy-policy-data-collection-change
I’m sure your thoughts and wisdom will be very welcome and useful in getting that discussion going!
Have fun with that.Ah, so you are intent to just troll here. Good to know!
Again, have fun with your comments. Simply pointing out the facts.
Bad bad bad idea and tactic. Up yours also dear Plex.