Reddit's New "Privacy Policy"

82  2015-11-21 by Quantumhead

Just been having a quick look. From the current version:-

Your Private Information Is Never for Sale.

Certain third party sites may offer users the option to log in using their reddit id (for example, redditgifts). This option is only an authentication tool and does not transmit any new personal information to or from reddit, or give reddit access to details of subsequent actions taken on these sites.

https://www.reddit.com/help/privacypolicy?v=33a67dd2-e2c6-11e4-807a-22000b248ffc

In the new version there seem to be no such guarantees about not selling user data.

We may partner with third-party advertisers, ad networks, and analytics providers to deliver advertising and content targeted to your interests and to better understand your use of the Services.

https://www.reddit.com/help/privacypolicy?v=e8c8da2a-8faf-11e5-aac4-0eb32ca8011f

Notice how they say they are "updating" the privacy policy rather than taking away your privacy?

Seriously guys. Read them both. Maybe I'm just being cynical, but it looks like a big "fuck you" to privacy.

55 comments

24  RMFN 2015-11-21

This is the new face of international companies. Free speech and privacy do not exist on reddit.

11  Quantumhead 2015-11-21

This is the new face of international companies. Free speech and privacy do not exist on reddit.

You can say that again. There's only one reason you'd erase the line: "Your Private Information Is Never for Sale". And that's because you plan to sell private information.

I actually feel betrayed.

1  conspirterior 2015-11-21

I agree 100% that it is to sell your info. As it has been said before, if you aren't paying, you are the product. I'd say the only response is to boycott reddit (or use it soley as a platform to promote boycotting reddit). Seriously, the ONLY thing these assholes will listen to is their bottom line.

6  RailroadBro 2015-11-21

Only solution fuck is to fuck add the word 'fuck' along the way in every response so fuck whenever they use your quote they are obligated to use either a [redacted] or fuck a [...].

1  Quantumhead 2015-11-21

I agree 100% that it is to sell your info. As it has been said before, if you aren't paying, you are the product. I'd say the only response is to boycott reddit (or use it soley as a platform to promote boycotting reddit). Seriously, the ONLY thing these assholes will listen to is their bottom line.

Absolutely pal. Sums it up perfectly.

0  PapiDimmi 2015-11-21

Why would they suddenly want to sell our private information so suddenly?

I wonder what happened. What were they thinking?

This is ridiculous.

1  Quantumhead 2015-11-21

Why would they suddenly want to sell our private information so suddenly?

They sold us out, man. Hard not to be a little bitter about that.

I wonder what happened. What were they thinking?

This is ridiculous.

Completely agree buddy. I presume they were probably thinking about money, in big capital letters. They clearly don't give a fuck about freedom of speech any more, that's for sure.

At this stage, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Reddit is under some sort of economic review, and eventually ends up becoming part of the Google or Yahoo empire. But whatever the reason, they seem very eager to ramp up profitability -- and at their users' expense.

4  GoogleNoAgenda 2015-11-21

Why should they? This is a private company, not a government institution. As long as they aren't installing key loggers or malware, they have the right to collect any information that you are willingly giving them.

2  RMFN 2015-11-21

That is why we need a forum with no owners.

5  GoogleNoAgenda 2015-11-21

Well you aren't going to have one with NO owners. You just have to have ones who are going to resist selling out to corporate interests. Hard to do when you're a random guy who has this site people use and along comes some company who wants to give you millions of dollars for it.

3  thetimeisnow 2015-11-21

Bullshit, We need a site that nobody owns. Just like a country.

1  GoogleNoAgenda 2015-11-21

Who pays for hosting? Websites aren't fee.

5  thetimeisnow 2015-11-21

Crowd-sourced fundraising to start and then collectively discuss and vote on what happens next and so on. Use ranked voting systems , progress forward and start taking back the government from the Corporations etc.

1  gacameron01 2015-11-21

Fire on, go on, give up your job to make it happen and enjoy zero recompense

1  tvfilm 2015-11-21

Kim Dotcom is trying to do this right now.

2  Cole7rain 2015-11-21

I think it actually might be possible to have a forum with no owners using block chain technology.

0  JimProfitLeninist 2015-11-21

If by millions you mean like a whole two dollars than sure. The 4chan meme of "doing it for free" is not entirely baseless. Yes, all moderators commit fraud, embezzlement, tax-evasion... but it's like drug cartel. Only the higher-ups make dick at all. The bottomfeeding "janitors" or in most cases just forum specific mods don't make much of anything. Just the thrill of being able to be a scumbag and criminal.

Also there's reportfags. Honestly a moderator's job would be ten times harder without reportfags who ESPECIALLY do it for free because they're so stupid they actually think mods do anything good and won't just ban them eventually too. It's quite disgusting. The practical thing to do would be to jail and kill moderators though. Reportfags will just have to stick their thumbs up their asses when they realize there's no mafia around anymore to torment people they dislike.

1  Amos_Quito 2015-11-21

Yes, all moderators commit fraud, embezzlement, tax-evasion... but it's like drug cartel. Only the higher-ups make dick at all. The bottomfeeding "janitors" or in most cases just forum specific mods don't make much of anything. Just the thrill of being able to be a scumbag and criminal.

Yeah, but damn, it FEELS GOOD to be a Gangsta'!

0  Quantumhead 2015-11-21

Well you aren't going to have one with NO owners. You just have to have ones who are going to resist selling out to corporate interests. Hard to do when you're a random guy who has this site people use and along comes some company who wants to give you millions of dollars for it.

Exactly. And the alternatives like Voat either have or will fall into exactly the same trap. That's why I think RMFN has a point. Not necessarily to create a site with no owners, but rather the opposite: create one whose ownership is diluted enough that site changes don't become arbitrary. There should be meetings and debates about all proposed changes, and the users themselves should be encouraged to participate in them.

Other than that, if you really wanted to create a free site which doesn't perpetuate the same tale of eventually selling itself out, then I think you probably only need one main rule: don't accept advertising.

-1  JamesColesPardon 2015-11-21

How much would it take to start something? Small scale. Say 400-500 uniques a day, checking in a few times a day?

I got some time this winter.

ITM, BTW.

1  GoogleNoAgenda 2015-11-21

Honestly, I haven't the foggiest. You are always slave to someone, though.

1  JamesColesPardon 2015-11-21

It appears I have collected a brigade.

-2  RMFN 2015-11-21

Open your eyes. Why can't we have a site built on socialist beliefs of ownership by the users?

1  GoogleNoAgenda 2015-11-21

We can. Just not this one. You don't run this one. I don't run this one. The people who run this one are more interested in using it to make money. I can't blame them for that, but if you are wanting something like you describe, then you have to be the one to go out and make it happen.

-1  RMFN 2015-11-21

Dude, your attitude sucks.

2  GoogleNoAgenda 2015-11-21

How's that?

1  RMFN 2015-11-21

Don't put all the work off on me. Lets build it together!

1  thetimeisnow 2015-11-21

Co-op with democratic voting system on all issues.

1  RMFN 2015-11-21

Yep.

-1  JimProfitLeninist 2015-11-21

Then you're admitting you're not a person online. If they can treat you as a piece of data, you should post child porn and snuff murder films.

I'm fucking serious. Because at the way all websites ban and denigrate their userbases, that would be a grave injustice and felony were we persons still bound to lawful practice online. But if we were not persons... they'd still go to jail because now it is THEIR responsibility when we post the child porn and snuffs.

Also the fact all moderators commit embezzlement, fraud, and tax-evasion with or without our presence.

1  loserlame 2015-11-21

Where to next? Fuck it, lets go back to Fark

0  Skunkies 2015-11-21

they would not of anyways, it is a priavtely owned company, any sense you have gotten over "free speech and privacy" were your own. if you have been on the internet long enough you would know companies never give you that right. some are just more lenient with it and can be taken away at anytime.

5  grable 2015-11-21

Seeing as this new policy will come into effect in January, my christmas present to myself will be be deleting my account.

-1  Quantumhead 2015-11-21

Lol

3  Bobb1118 2015-11-21

more to voat?

0  trinsic-paridiom 2015-11-21

Voat is incorporated, Im thinking that we should not be entrusting any for profit entities with freedom of speech.

3  UcDat 2015-11-21

a big "fuck you" indeed

3  K-Vox 2015-11-21

Great time to look at services like https://www.ghostery.com/ Blocks analytic providers from using your data to make money, who knows how long it will be before it goes the Adblocker route, but it's there and it works as advertised for now.

2  disposable182 2015-11-21

Ghostery is owned by an advertising company.

1  vautee 2015-11-21

well, then let's use ublock0: https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock

1  Quantumhead 2015-11-21

Good post dude. Thanks.

3  [deleted] 2015-11-21

Fuck em. I'm deactivating tomorrow.

1  Quantumhead 2015-11-21

Honestly don't blame you. What began as a daring and popular platform for public thought has once again been completely fucking ruined by human malice and greed.

1  [deleted] 2015-11-21

[deleted]

1  [deleted] 2015-11-21

Not sure. Come baxk and look at this tonight. I cannot deactivate from this app, but once home I shall.

1  disposable182 2015-11-21

No, Reddit is archived on tons of sites online.

1  [deleted] 2015-11-21

[deleted]

1  disposable182 2015-11-21

I mean, it'll be off Reddit servers but it won't be uncached from other websites. So kinda, but not really.

And Reddit saves deleted comments, but if you edit them first then delete they don't save edits.

1  spentor 2015-11-21

If this makes front page people will be more cautious with Reddit. People will unsubscribe to subs, comment less, etc etc.

1  Quantumhead 2015-11-21

If this makes front page people will be more cautious with Reddit

Good point.

People will unsubscribe to subs, comment less, etc etc.

Yes. It think it is pretty clear that Reddit has made up its mind about the direction it is going to take though. The thing to be worried about is that eventually they are going to fracture this sub, and that means we become isolated individuals raging against the system rather than a strong group collective.

-2  [deleted] 2015-11-21

[removed]

3  Quantumhead 2015-11-21

Nice rant bro. Out of Ritalin?

0  [deleted] 2015-11-21

[removed]

1  SovereignMan 2015-11-21

Rule 1. Removed. This is your only warning.

-4  jeffrey2ks 2015-11-21

Argh, why do people act like they give a shit about there precious privacy? You don't have privacy and you never have so stop bitching.

Aslong as your thoughts can't be read involuntary and you can take a shit and shower without it being beamed all over the world. What are you worrying about?

1  SaxonWitch 2015-11-21

Looking forward to the 24 hour cam in your bathroom. Sod privacy, right?

-1  RMFN 2015-11-21

Dude, your attitude sucks.

1  Quantumhead 2015-11-21

Honestly don't blame you. What began as a daring and popular platform for public thought has once again been completely fucking ruined by human malice and greed.