[Legal] Tasklist for data collection opt-out

[Eideren]

• Installer privacy link doesn't work  #891
• Opting out during installer
• Xenko still shows privacy agreement popup even when running 3.0.0.5-dev #204
• Option to opt out on first run of the editor
• Implement "Enable Metrics" setting #1816
• Plans on Updating your privacy policy? #3

Do we need to update the privacy policy for those changes @xen2 ?

[manio143]

There's actually per country requirements for opt-in vs opt-out and EU for example requires opt-in by GDPR I believe.
I founds this article that summarizes the cases for opt-in/opt-out
https://termly.io/resources/articles/opt-in-vs-opt-out/

[xen2]

I was wondering, if we have to make it opt-in, does it still make sense to use since we won't be able to track proper installation counts?

[manio143]

I'm thinking - while the collection of personal data requires explicit opt-in, things like non-personal telemetry are exempt.
So we can still send the metrics on install provided we cannot differentiate the users (no system related identifiers, IP, etc).
And if users don't want to send us even this then it's their choice.
So if we ensure we only collect non-personal metadata I think having opt-out would still be correct.

[NicusorN5]

I think there won't be many users that would disable metrics, knowing that their data is only used to increase some counters.

I assume it may make sense to still use metrics, since we can estimate that ~90 % of users have metrics turned on?

[xen2]

Yes if it's default on and only few users opt-out it, stats should be fine (as opposed to default off and opt-in).

Here are two things I can think of that might problematic privacy-wise:

1. We generate a unique InstallGuid (source). Ideally I was hoping it could be kept, otherwise it will be difficult to understand who is an active user vs a new user.
2. I think the database might be logging IP. I am fine to disable this if that's problematic.

Another note: we had our own system, frontend and server for metrics. If you know of any other option/library to make maintenance easier, I am open to suggestions!

[xen2]

Sorry, I have just remembered a last one: the crash report system.

I am not even sure it is working still (backend is probably off), but when we used it at Silicon Studio it was receiving stacktrace and some env variables.
I think we did our best to hide sensitive info at the source before sending it, i.e. by hiding USERNAME/USERPROFILE directories

stride/sources/editor/Stride.GameStudio/CrashReportHelper.cs

Line 181 in 6a2e29b

data = Regex.Replace(data, Regex.Escape(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("USERPROFILE")), Regex.Escape("%USERPROFILE%"), RegexOptions.IgnoreCase);

There is probably a bit more we could do (i.e. a toggle to hide stacktrace that doesn't start with Stride for user code privacy in case it's irrelevant?).

However it is opt-in (user has to explicitly accept sending the crash info), and probably no backend running right now.

[NicusorN5]

Opting out during installer

Option to opt out on first run of the editor

I think it may be enough if an user could opt out from the installer.

[cybernaut4]

Well, I'm annoyed that the installer didn't warn me about data collection BEFORE installing.

No opt-out option here.

Please @ me when it can be used without accepting any privacy policy and I'll have my first time with it by then.

Edit: If anyone knows of a fork without the telemetry, that'd be useful to know.

[VaclavElias]

@cybernaut4, while this is being sorted out, if you're interested, you can try the code-only approach without installing Stride Studio. Check it out here: https://stride3d.github.io/stride-community-toolkit/manual/code-only/create-project.html

[cybernaut4]

@cybernaut4, while this is being sorted out, if you're interested, you can try the code-only approach without installing Stride Studio. Check it out here: https://stride3d.github.io/stride-community-toolkit/manual/code-only/create-project.html

Good to know, though I wish my first time was with the user interface. In the meantime, I'll take that into account. Thanks