Audacity eventually turned it into spyware

Πρόσφατες αλλαγές στην πολιτική απορρήτου του Audacity οδήγησαν ορισμένους χρήστες να αποκαλούν το software processing sound spyware. Το open-source software collects user data for “app analytics” to “improve the application” as well as “for requests disclosure of data to the authorities".

The privacy policy was updated on July 2, following the acquisition of Audacity by the Muse Group in April. Muse Group also has the Ultimate app Guitar και MuseScore. Η νέα πολιτική αναφέρει ότι η Muse Group συλλέγει λεπτομέρειες για την έκδοση του λειτουργικού συστήματος των χρηστών, τον επεξεργαστή, τη χώρα με βάση τη διεύθυνση IP, τις αναφορές και τους κωδικούς σφαλμάτων. Σύμφωνα με την πολιτική, η επεξεργασία αυτών των δεδομένων είναι για το “νόμιμο συμφέρον” της εταιρείας “για να προσφέρει και να διασφαλίζει την ορθή λειτουργία της εφαρμογής.”

However, the data it collects on "data disclosure requests from the authorities" is more vague. According to the policy, the Muse Group will collect "data necessary for law enforcement authorities (if any)." It may disclose personal data to "any law enforcement agency, regulator, government agency, court or other third party where we believe disclosure is necessary".

Users' personal data is stored on European Economic Area (EEA) servers, but this does not make sense, as anyone can access it. However, the Muse Group states that "occasionally we are required to disclose your personal information to our headquarters in Russia and to our external consultant in the United States."

The policy states that users' IP addresses are "stored in an identifiable manner" for one day before being encrypted. This leaves users open to recognition from the beginning.

Several other points in the privacy policy have raised many questions in the public, such as the ban on the use of Audacity for people under 13 years of age. This, of course, violates the license under which the Audacity application is distributed. The General License prohibits restrictions on the use of software.

Of course Audacity users who value the privacy of teenagers who play with sound are waiting some fork, a new version of the application based on the source code. It wouldn't be surprising to see the community create an Audacity clone along these lines.