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.
I’m kind of confused how this is so controversial or unexpected. You’re using commercial software for free, ad support should be expected. It definitely sounded like and was confirmed to be out of the dev’s hands, it’s Google’s ad platform. If you can spend $3.50 USD to remove ads it’s not a concern.
I love free software but people also need to feed their families. This guy chose software as a way to do that. Being opposed to ads is great but either cough up the 3.50 for an app you’ll likely use thousands of hours or don’t. Don’t shame the guy for allowing it to also be used “free” with ads.
Exactly. How much fuckin time have you used the app and can’t send the dude $3.50 ONCE to pay his bills?
I block ads on my network already, and still paid for it. Ruben has a great product here and a one time purchase is absolutely a proper way to get paid.
Just a friendly reminder that if you’d like to pay more than 3.50 you can also do that! There’s a donation tool built in. So if you like the app and want to support more, or again in the future you have that option.
and another reminder that other apps exist. Don’t get your panties in a bunch because a developer thinks his time is worth something, rightly so.
You hate Boost? Download something else. Personally I prefer an app by a developer who has many years experience making a Reddit app. The free and FOSS apps are fine, but they are all missing stuff and rough around the edges.
Then again, Lemmy attacks anyone who says they like, or require windows, and calls them names on how they should use Linux, despite drivers/programs they rely on not being available on Linux. Seems like it’s hard for the FOSS community to not be toxic.
That’s a great point and I may do that! So far the app works wonderfully so it’s probably deserved.
Removing ads doesn’t stop data sharing
"The consent dialog is 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."
So according to the dev, it does stop the tracking. Or am I misunderstanding it?
Sounds pretty clear to me, no tracking if ads are removed
Just linking the comment you quoted for posterity: https://lemmy.world/comment/3811201
That comment is from the dev who made the app.
Right, thanks :D
And unless you: have access to the source code, are fluent in the programming languages used to build it, AND have time to review it all, you’ll never know if an app does that.
Conforming to the Play store does not make the dev shady imo. If that’s your stance you probably should stick mainly to F-Droid apps.
you can packet capture and hazard a guess at least, not necessarily access to source code
That’s definitely true. I wonder if anyone throwing a tantrum here would ever care to learn how to do that.
Of course not.
Doubt the capture would help any, TLS and all that jazz.
Unless the app uses hard-coded root certs, you can still capture and decrypt ssl/tls traffic using a custom root cert so the device trusts your MITM server. It’s just a bit more work.
Late to this thread but anyway.
I just got the notification that Boost for Lemmy was available and immediately installed after kind of forgetting about Lemmy.
Boost is such a quality app that it makes me want to use Lemmy again, and I happily paid for the app as soon as I could. People have such a weird thing about mobile apps when you consider the size of the mobile game market.
Commercial?
Yes. It was meant to be paid for unless ads are okay with you. He does this for a living.
The verbiage is shitty and sideways. Just be straightforward and say that by using the software you consent to the agreement, not that if you disagree, we’ll only use it if we really think about it and feel like it or some shit like that. It’s disingenuous.
It’s Google’s verbiage
The point of issue isn’t in using ads, but on hiding the fact your consent means jack shit. How are you people having trouble understanding something this obvious?
How is it so hard for you to understand that Google does shit that everyone else has no choice about?
He better find a choice, then, because that shit won’t fly wherever strong legal protections for data privacy exist.
You are all over this thread completely missing what people continually explain to you: THIS IS GOOGLE. If there is a law broken, Google would be liable. At no point did Ruben have a choice if he ever wanted to have an ad supported version in the Play store.
Are you illiterate? It doesn’t matter if the API was made by John Doe, Google or even Santa Claus
The only person here demonstrating learning disabilities is you.
Hardly a convincing line, coming from a 'murican.