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.
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.
With the hate here, even after you explained, I am starting to think these FOSS heads are going to kill Lemmy.
Instead of just using any other app, they are attacking you. What a great way to push any future devs away. Lemmy will continue to be a weird little FOSS niche if the FOSS users don't stop soiling their diapers over nothing.
It's honestly a huge turn off to Lemmy writ large. Look at what happened when Dawson released Sync.
A few weeks ago someone posted to c/techsupport with an issue with their Office install. Every. Single. Comment. was "uSe LiBrEoFfIcEβ or something to that effect, some going as far as to insult the OP for asking a tech support question in the tech support forum, because MiCrOsOfT bAaAaAd.
I was the only one to offer a real solution. If I were that OP, I wouldn't come back to Lemmy.
Damn, that's really frustrating, and literally doesn't help one bit. Even if OP wanted to switch.
I use LibreOffice because I keep spreadsheets of my vehicle kilometres and whatnot, but my girlfriend, who works in a professional setting, would never be able to use anything other than Microsoft Office. The compatibility, features, etc. make nothing else a viable alternative, unless you're keeping stupid at home spreadsheets like I am.
The "FOSS heads" are the only reason why Lemmy exists at all.
I have been using nothing but Linux for the last decade (literally, Arch for years and now Nix) and I'm increasingly growing to hate how so many OSS communities are bordering on zealotry.
I've completely unsubbed from most Android communities now too because they're all such toxic, hostile places to be if you have the sheer audacity to use anything proprietary or closed source.
I've been around this block. I've been both using and contributing to open source projects, some small, some large. I'm proud of what open source developers have achieved and am humbled by most of them. But the users...the users are starting to get really annoying.
How dare those supporters of open source software support open source software (Lemmy)!
To steel-man this argument, it's really "Free software supporters are too hostile and demanding, and they'll scare off developers."
I have seen no evidence of this happening. Instead, there's a huge number of Lemmy clients, both open and closed source. I have at least half a dozen installed on my phone, and that's not even all of them! Compare that to the number of Mastodon clients.
Cool, do you want it to be a FOSS only place even in comments?
Okay, well have fun when you push everyone else away. Lemmy will look like the Ubuntu forums lol.
Lemmy is full of people that just want to scream about what they believe everywhere. The entire website has this coat of political speak that isn't helping attract people that just want to talk about games or look at memes.
You pretty much just described today's Internet
100% now that it's easy to comment and make blogs etc so easy everyone now thinks their opinion matters because they can put it on the net.
Yea, it is definitely a turn off. A lot of people on lemmy are not just passionate about what they believe, they are basically evangelical about it to the point that they seem like they need to not only convince everyone how right they are, but be assholes to anyone who disagrees. Whether it's political, or about software, or whatever.
To be honest, that sounds a whole lot like reddit, too.
Not sure you got your answer yet so here: Free and Open Source Software
Free, Open-Source Software
Think: Gimp, Blender, etc
Free/open source software.
Free open source software
This is the app creator everyone.
He doesn't know anything, I know Boost better!
https://images.app.goo.gl/euNDZsn8oGq6mzy79
Yes literally first word of his comment, thanks for reminding us kind stranger
Well look at that, a simple logical explanation.
Oh and thank you sir for your app. I went to paid version before i even loaded any content. I look forward to it's future
There are plenty of more justified directions we can go with pitchforks and torches for sure my friends.
Thank you for clarifying this.
I also apologize if this post has hurt Boost - I didn't think it would get a fraction of the visibility it did or even the reactions it did. I edited to add your explanation to make sure anybody who reads it going forward has the full story.
You've done great work on Boost. I really enjoyed the Reddit version and look forward to seeing what you do with it, so thank you.
Since you've got the group's and the devs attention, maybe suggest adding a little clarification to that dialog, as it is indeed a bit scary without Ruben's explanation.
Something like, "Google ad networks and gdpr require me to state this: 'that scary text from the orig. dialog'
Get more details here: < link >"
No worries on pointing it out, we just gotta be careful in supporting our devs when we also ask questions, so they won't feel thrown under a bus.
UX-wise you might want to add a screen full of blurb before initialising the sdk. "The free version is ad-supported, google might ask you for tracking permissions" kind of thing.
I know you'll probably get flooded with a stream of responses so sorry to add to them but you've done a fantastic job implementing a boost replacement for the lemmy environment and I'm happy to support that by buying the ad free version. I'd also suggest opening some sort of channel for later contributions but I look forward to see how boost for lemmy grows. Thank you for all the great work.
thanks for the logical explanation and thanks especially for all of the hard work you put into bringing Boost for Lemmy to us! downloading it made my day.
Hello, European here. Your explanation doesn't fix anything, it's still on you to ensure that your app complies with the GDPR - of a component you use doesn't you can't use it. You can complain to your ad network that their sdk sucks.
I just got boost installed and I don't want to accept the privacy policy but I will happily pay to use the app, is that possible?
Clearly you are trying not to make a big deal about it, and I respect that, but maybe make a pinned post on BoostForLemmy? Make sure you're not actively trying to fleece people?