- Joined
- Jun 13, 2019
Most of the 'good' journalists have been cancelled or extremely limited in what they can talk about.
I follow some of them on Substack. They recently announced a change to the terms of service. Noticed a few things to be concerned about.
Basically:
- They are going to track you by browser, device, ip address, cookies, and third party cookies
- They are going to track your activity on other sites
- They are going to share the information they collect with other services
- They are going to sell your personal information
Incredibly intrusive. This site is supposed to be a platform for individual publishers, they are collecting Facebook-levels of information with zero safeguards about how it's used. Unlike Facebook, you actually pay subscription fees to get content from publishers. Because it's a subscription model, there's no basis for the buying and selling of personal info.
Let's put this another way. If someone wanted to create a scoring system that rates you based on what you read, they can do that with information social networks collect about you. Now they can also do that based on what newsletters you privately sign up to receive.
This is not right.
Relevant sections:
"Information Collected Automatically
Whenever you interact with our Services, we automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser or device, which may include your IP address, geolocation data, device identification, “cookie” information, the type of browser and/or device you’re using to access our Services, and the page or feature you requested. “Cookies” are identifiers we transfer to your browser or device that allow us to recognize your browser or device and tell us how and when pages and features in our Services are visited and by how many people. You may be able to change the preferences on your browser or device to prevent or limit your device’s acceptance of cookies, but this may prevent you from taking advantage of some of our features. Also, if you click on a link to a third party website or service, such third party may also transmit cookies to you. Again, this Privacy Policy does not cover the use of cookies by any third parties, and we aren’t responsible for their privacy policies and practices. Please be aware that cookies placed by third parties may continue to track your activities online even after you have left our Services, and those third parties may not honor “Do Not Track” requests you have set using your browser or device."
"Information Collected From Other Websites and Do Not Track Policy
Through cookies we place on your browser or device, we may collect information about your online activity after you leave our Services. Just like any other usage information we collect, this information allows us to improve the Services and customize your online experience, and otherwise as described in this Privacy Policy. Your browser may offer you a “Do Not Track” option, which allows you to signal to operators of websites and web applications and services (including behavioral advertising services) that you do not wish such operators to track certain of your online activities over time and across different websites. Our Services do not support Do Not Track requests at this time, which means that we collect information about your online activity both while you are using the Services and after you leave our Services."
"Will Substack Share Any of the Personal Information it Receives?
We may share your Personal Information with third parties as described below:"
"Business Transfers: We may choose to buy or sell assets, and may share and/or transfer customer information in connection with the evaluation of and entry into such transactions.Also, if we (or our assets) are acquired, or if we go out of business, enter bankruptcy, or go through some other change of control, Personal Information could be one of the assets transferred to or acquired by a third party."
I follow some of them on Substack. They recently announced a change to the terms of service. Noticed a few things to be concerned about.
Basically:
- They are going to track you by browser, device, ip address, cookies, and third party cookies
- They are going to track your activity on other sites
- They are going to share the information they collect with other services
- They are going to sell your personal information
Incredibly intrusive. This site is supposed to be a platform for individual publishers, they are collecting Facebook-levels of information with zero safeguards about how it's used. Unlike Facebook, you actually pay subscription fees to get content from publishers. Because it's a subscription model, there's no basis for the buying and selling of personal info.
Let's put this another way. If someone wanted to create a scoring system that rates you based on what you read, they can do that with information social networks collect about you. Now they can also do that based on what newsletters you privately sign up to receive.
This is not right.
Relevant sections:
"Information Collected Automatically
Whenever you interact with our Services, we automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser or device, which may include your IP address, geolocation data, device identification, “cookie” information, the type of browser and/or device you’re using to access our Services, and the page or feature you requested. “Cookies” are identifiers we transfer to your browser or device that allow us to recognize your browser or device and tell us how and when pages and features in our Services are visited and by how many people. You may be able to change the preferences on your browser or device to prevent or limit your device’s acceptance of cookies, but this may prevent you from taking advantage of some of our features. Also, if you click on a link to a third party website or service, such third party may also transmit cookies to you. Again, this Privacy Policy does not cover the use of cookies by any third parties, and we aren’t responsible for their privacy policies and practices. Please be aware that cookies placed by third parties may continue to track your activities online even after you have left our Services, and those third parties may not honor “Do Not Track” requests you have set using your browser or device."
"Information Collected From Other Websites and Do Not Track Policy
Through cookies we place on your browser or device, we may collect information about your online activity after you leave our Services. Just like any other usage information we collect, this information allows us to improve the Services and customize your online experience, and otherwise as described in this Privacy Policy. Your browser may offer you a “Do Not Track” option, which allows you to signal to operators of websites and web applications and services (including behavioral advertising services) that you do not wish such operators to track certain of your online activities over time and across different websites. Our Services do not support Do Not Track requests at this time, which means that we collect information about your online activity both while you are using the Services and after you leave our Services."
"Will Substack Share Any of the Personal Information it Receives?
We may share your Personal Information with third parties as described below:"
"Business Transfers: We may choose to buy or sell assets, and may share and/or transfer customer information in connection with the evaluation of and entry into such transactions.Also, if we (or our assets) are acquired, or if we go out of business, enter bankruptcy, or go through some other change of control, Personal Information could be one of the assets transferred to or acquired by a third party."
