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.

  • Gerudo@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Are the people up in arms over this really not able/willing to pay $3.50 for a LIFETIME of no ads on the app?

    • midniter@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Yeah, it’s sad seeing people this worked up over a thing required by and verbiated by Google Ads.

      But it’s their choice though, so goodbye to those people.

      • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        The verbiage is boilerplate language from Google though, not anything Boost came up with. It’s like getting angry at a business for collecting 5% for a new tax. Their only part in the manner is being forced to do so if they want to run their business. The real person to blame is who made and voted for that tax.

          • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Doesn’t Article 10 Clause 2 go over this “legitimate interest” exception? I can’t say I’m an expert in LGPD.

            It’s entirely possible that notification is only required in the EU, such is what I believe I’ve read in this thread.

    • hypelightfly@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Why would you support (buy) software that does something you believe is wrong?

      The developer chose to put in ads and use Google’s ad network. That was not a requirement, it was a choice.

      • midniter@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        If you buy it then it stops doing the wrong thing, that’s the point. Ads work in a way, if you don’t want them you can thank the developer and also get rid of the ads, one time only.

        • hypelightfly@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          The ads aren’t the problem. The chosen ad network that invades your privacy is.

          The problem doesn’t go away by paying for it. The developer is still using the privacy invading ad network for everyone who doesn’t pay. They have the option to not use that ad network but that would result in less ad revenue.