Spotify apologizes after new privacy policy drives away angry users
Spotify has apologized after its new privacy policy angered many of its users and even drove some to leave the music streaming service.
Chief executive Daniel Ek delivered a statement apologizing over the "confusion" that Spotify's new privacy policy has caused. The new terms require Spotify to access users' photos, contact number, and even sensor data in the their smartphones, according to BBC.
Spotify began rolling out the new privacy policy on August 10. But a lot of users have expressed negative reaction to the changes, Beta News reports. Minecraft creator Markus Persson was one of the Spotify users who announced over Twitter that he will drop his account because of the new terms.
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"As a consumer, I've always loved your service. You're the reason I stopped pirating music. Please consider not being evil," BBC quotes Persson's direct tweet to Spotify.
Wired Magazine, on the other hand, likened the service to a "jealous ex" that wants access to users' photos and contacts. Forbes reporter Thomas Fox-Brewster also revealed that he is considering if the £10 premium membership fee he pays is still worth it, since he would be "giving away" his privacy, the report relays.
In response to users' angry reactions, Spotify said its privacy policies will help the service "tailor" user experience. In a blog post, Ek vowed to implement an updated policy that will help clarify Spotify's new privacy terms. However, he did not say if the terms would be altered.
"We should have done a better job in communicating what these policies mean and how any information you choose to share will — and will not — be used," said Ek in his statement.
The Spotify chief assured that the music service will not access or import users' photos, GPS data, sensor, or contacts without their permission. Users who do not agree with Spotify's new privacy terms can simply stop using the service, according to the firm's statement.
