this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2023
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Boost For Lemmy

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Community of the Lemmy Android Client Boost for Lemmy. Play Store Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rubenmayayo.lemmy

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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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[–] rmayayo@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 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.

[–] Sused@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 year ago

This is the app creator everyone.

[–] giantfloppycock@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

legitimate interest is a shitty data privacy loophole

[–] drolex@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 year ago

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

I have a legitimate interest! It's identity theft

[–] Murvel@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago

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

[–] Graz@feddit.de 0 points 1 year ago

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)

[–] otter@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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

@rmayayo@lemmy.world

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?

[–] mattomattic@discuss.tchncs.de -1 points 1 year ago

How about we do anyway...fuck you. We don't actually need your consent. We need to present the perception that we care about you. This is just a round about way to actually get consent and scrape every fucking piece of data you give.

[–] eatham@aussie.zone -1 points 1 year ago

Why is that even legal. Either way, you can just use open apps for lemmy at least.

[–] cleverusername@lemm.ee -1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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.

[–] Meho_Nohome@sh.itjust.works -1 points 1 year ago (1 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."

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

[–] mhz@lemm.ee -1 points 1 year ago

I was waiting for Boost release, but after reading this I must say goodbye Boost, I enjoyed using you in Reddit days.

[–] Powerpoint@lemmy.ca -1 points 1 year ago

Infinity is a good option

[–] stepanzak@iusearchlinux.fyi -1 points 1 year ago

Use something FOSS.