Has the #Spotify privacy policy gone too far? Will you #QuitSpotify? - http://clapway.com/2015/08/23/%e2%80%8bthe-spotify-privacy-policy-has-changed-the-internet-is-going-crazy-342/

Spotify’s new privacy policy has led its users to object to the streaming service that counts more than 20 million paid and 55 million free subscribers. With members threatening to leave the service over changes in terms and conditions, the Spotify chief executive, Daniel Ek, apologised publicly in a written blog post.

THE NEW SPOTIFY PRIVACY POLICY

The new terms and conditions of the music service include access to sensitive and sensor data, found on the users’ smartphones. Phone numbers, photographs, locations and other information stored in your phone have been sent to the Spotify servers if you’ve hit “yes” when the new Ts&Cs popped up.

Yep, that’s what you signed up for.

QUIT SPOTIFY

The hashtag #QuitSpotify has become trending after the announcement, and users all over the world express their complaints to the service with Markus Persson (also known as Notch), creator of Minecraft, tweeting to his 2.4 million followers that he was cancelling his own account.

Spotify has said in response that those changes are meant to improve the user experience. For example, new Spotify terms and conditions request access to how fast users move in order to help the Spotify Running app which matches beats per minute of songs it chooses to play, to the pace you run.

Related post: Amazon Launches Prime Music to Combat Apple Music and Spotify

THE PUBLIC APOLOGY

Mr. Ek apologised in a blog post and he promised an update to the new policy, which will clarify it, but he did not suggest that the terms themselves would be changed.

What he wrote was that the team should have communicated the meaning of these policies better and make clear how the information users share with Spotify will -and will not- be used. Also, he noted that Spotify will not access photos, contacts, GPS or sensor without the user’s permission.

THERE IS A SOLUTION

If you don’t wish to give access to any personal data but you still love using Spotify, the only thing you have to do is accept the new terms of service, and then deny access every time a Spotify prompt hits your screen.

However, Spotify does not want to collect your personal data just for fun or because of a spy-type “New World Order” game. Contacts are most likely to assist you in connecting with friends on the app, and photos and location data are collected to provide advertising agencies with useful, marketing information.

---

 

In case you missed it, we’ve got it for you — find out what you missed this week on Clapway:

 

​The Spotify Privacy Policy Has Changed. The Internet is Going Crazy.

%Florida officials will keep the panther on the #endangered species list; #Florida commissioners to vote on a draft #policy paper to assist #panther #rehab soon.% - http://clapway.com/2015/08/16/florida-panther-endangered-september-101/

The endangered panther’s numbers have been thriving in southwest Florida in recent decades thanks to diligent conservation efforts and public support, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). However, officials at FWC have no plans to remove the panther from the endangered species list at this time, and Florida commissioners will vote on a draft policy paper regarding the next step for panther rehabilitation this September. The original draft of this policy was put forward this June, but was set aside for the time to allow the FWC to review data and give thorough input regarding the panther’s endangerment level.

ENDANGERED STATUS OF PANTHERS IN QUESTION

The FWC recognizes that panther numbers are improving and states that it will reflect on federal criteria regarding the panther’s endangered species status. The new version of the draft stresses the importance of protecting the panther’s natural habitat — specifically southwestern Florida — where most of the panthers are currently concentrated. However, the federal objective has been to work towards building panther populations beyond this area alone. The policy paper seeks to determine what specifically the state agency will be responsible for versus the federal government regarding panther protection and recovery.

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

The species was officially listed as endangered in 1967. At the time, there were a mere 30 adult documented panthers living; current numbers suggest that there are 180 adult panthers in Florida population.

While a great improvement, Florida conservationists say that panther rehabilitation efforts are still absolutely crucial. Some Florida citizens are concerned that growing numbers in the panther population has led to an increase in safety issues. However, the FWC stresses the importance of public awareness in guaranteeing that the Florida panther remains alive and well.

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

A successful increase in panther numbers naturally results in more “conflicts” with the human population, says FWC deputy director Kipp Frohlich. Claims that the current panther population is a burden to residents due to conflicts such as road accidents and loss of livestock were redacted when the draft was revised for the upcoming vote. For now, the FWC hopes to continue efforts in broadening the species’ population’s numbers, while not necessarily expanding into new territory. The next step for the Florida panther relies on next month’s vote.

Florida Panther Policy Faces Upheaval this September