1y ago

Poll about Fedora OPT-OUT telemetry metrics proposal

discussion.fedoraproject.org UNOFFICIAL poll about OPT-OUT metrics proposal

Since the discussion about the change proposal triggered so many replies (some of those implying malevolence in moving the discussion from ML to Discourse and split in separate threads), let’s get down to the core question and make use of the advanced feature of Discourse to have users clearly state...

18 comments

The right way to implement telemetry:
It's off by default (opt-in). To increase visibility of this option, it's OK to ask the user via popup, during setup, or similar, whether he would like to turn it on
Once it's on, the user should be informed BEFORE each upload takes place about the exact content which should be uploaded, and asked whether he wants to send it (Y/N)
Transmission must only contain truly necessary data
Transmission must be encrypted
- I agree with everything, except the second point. If I already opted-in I don't want to be prompted every time that telemetry is uploaded. I wouldn't mind a notification informing me that telemetry has been sent while also allowing me to review it.
  Also, it almost goes without saying that I should also be able to opt-out at any time, even after explicitly opting-in.

What’s happening? Out of the loop. Is Fedora going to implement telemetry? Escaping from windows only to go with red hat
- Not just talk about implementing it, but also making it opt-out (i.e. enabled by default). If I understood it right, the author of the proposal even writes that that opt-in is useless, because nobody is going to enable it, which kinda makes it sound like they know that they're trying to push something on users that they don't want.
  
  If I understood it right, the author of the proposal even writes that that opt-in is useless, because nobody is going to enable it, which kinda makes it sound like they know that they’re trying to push something on users that they don’t want.
  The question is, why don't users want it? I have already had a few discussions on the subject of telemetry and telemetry has almost always been portrayed as evil. Even when, for example, the transmission is encrypted and only the most necessary data is transmitted in such a way that no conclusion can be drawn about a specific user.
  Is opt-out therefore a good solution? Not in my opinion. But I can understand the developers who use opt-out, for the reasons I mentioned. Because yes, telemetry can help to improve a program.
  
  Well, there you go. My go to distro in desperate needs of my data. I know it's been only proposed but, I lost my trust with RedHat and Co.
- it's being disscused, they want to implement and "privacy respecting" telemetry
- It's a proposal. Current status: https://discussion.fedoraproject.org/t/opt-in-opt-out-a-breakout-topic-for-the-f40-change-request-on-privacy-preserving-telemetry-for-fedora-workstation/85395/153

Currently the nays have it at 2/3 of the vote, but there's only 15 votes. Only time will tell how it turns out.

Corpos love opt-out because it lets them take advantage of people who don't consent but maybe weren't paying attention to or understanding the option right at the moment, esp if deceptive design is used.
Edit: and judging by the stupid formatting of that poll, I don't think I trust them not to use deceptive design to confuse people lmao.

Anything related to Fedora or Red Hat never cared about user's opinions.
NOTABUG. WONTFIX.

Am I the only one who had to re-read the poll question multiples times because of the confusing Yes/No options? Why not make the options Opt-In by Default/Opt-Out by Default?

I never liked Fedora anyway. Its been a big year of red flags for Red hat: charging for RHEL, putting telemetry in Fedora... They'd probably suck Zuck/Elons cock if it meant more money.

Used fedora KDE once, never again, I'm gonna stick with Ubuntu

18 comments