Pre-Saving Albums Can Allow Labels to Track Users on Spotify

WHAT?!?

 

I'm not sure why this is news to anyone unless they've never tried to pre-save an album on Spotify. You very obviously have to allow additional permissions on a separate page. The handful of times I've wanted to pre-save an album, I've seen that page and immediately closed it. Here's what the page looks like (in case people are going to the comments without reading the article):

It's bullshit in my opinion, but it's not exactly hidden...

 

Because no one reads these agreements. That's the problem with privacy policies and informed consent from virtually every big tech company. They know no one reads these and just clicks through.

 

I never actually pre-save an album. Is that bad fan etiquette?

 

I’ve gone to pre-save stuff and then opted out due to this in the past.

 

Maybe I'm just hyper-sensitive to it as someone in IT. I don't read every EULA either, but when something is explicitly asking for more permissions than I previously gave it (e.g. Facebook apps for giveaways, phone apps, etc.), I take notice.

I've never actually expanded to see what additional permissions are needed—I always just close it when I get to this screen.

I know Apple Music can pre-save too, and that's what you use. Does Apple Music have any kinds of this stuff on there?

 

AFAIK, no. Apple's privacy stance, so far, has been top notch.

 

Totally just pre-saved an album for the first time the other day. But I feel like the permissions I gave were obvious; of course they have to have access to add something to my Spotify since that’s exactly what I’m asking them to do with a pre-save.

The real question is how do you revoke permission after granting it?

 

That's cool. The main reason I'm on Spotify is that I get is super cheap, but when my kids get old enough, assuming they're interested in music (and they thankfully prefer my musical taste to my wife's at the moment), I'll probably get an Apple Music family subscription.

Glad to hear this article doesn't surprise you either.

From the screenshots of the privacy rights: "You can remove this access at any time spotify.com/account". I'm not sure if you can pre-save then immediately revoke access without them either removing the pre-saved album or getting tons of data from you though.

 

Reason no. 643726 I’m happy to be using Apple Music.

 

How else would pre saving work? Like the idea is Spotify adds it to your playlist the moment it's released, so they need permission to edit your playlists

The other info they get is a little odd that it's tied to presaving, I sorta just assumed labels got that regardless

 

All you’d really need to pre-save an album is your account’s user ID.