Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
T-Mobile Automatically Opting Customers In to Expanded Data Collection Program for Targeted Ads
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Sticking with them for now, but I've been tempted to port out to Mint Mobile. Ryan Reynolds seems like he cares about offering good service at a fair price and not taking advantage of their customers.
They're still less evil than Verizon and AT&T
You do know that Apple's Targeted Advertising is opt-out as well, right? Hopefully, you also know that if you give location access to the App Store, you automatically opted in to location based ads as well.
I just opted out. This is ridiculous in that I had to individually opt each line out. This is an erosion of trust that I find surprising from T-mobile.
They may have just threw you into it and they're not going to tell you...? I know they had the FCC under their thumb with Ajit Pai on their payroll to roll back on net neutrality so they could charge you for every little thing. It didn't work since every state wound adopting their own rules, which very much similar to net neutrality.
Verizon Hops on Board the Targeted Marketing Train
www.natimark.com
"AT&T customers can opt out of AT&T's ad program by visiting AT&T's opt out website,"
Except that link just goes to the AT&T sign-in page.
edit:
I think it may be here:
Except that link just goes to the AT&T sign-in page.
edit:
I think it may be here:
Last edited:
So, this bugs me...on so many levels. First off, I used to write and conduct surveys of this kind. They are incredibly leading and manipulative because thats how we write them. Do you really think T-Mobile is saying "Well should we force people into a business practice that makes us money, or should we lose out on those profits because some people in the the industry said its a bad way to do it?" NO. They are thinking, "If we can get people to say they want this, then we can make money off them and say its their idea, despite them not knowing how their information is really used." Second, people may truly want ads to be curated for them, but what they are in essence saying is, "FEED ME" When I went to great lengths to remove all ad identifiers from my devices (or as many as I could anyway), I started getting ads that actually made me discover new things. I wasn't seeing only things someone else thought I would like. AND I actually made a purchase based on an ad for the first time in over 15 years.
Ryan Reynolds is an actor that doesn't care about you at all.
Well, it does matter. If the others do that, it needs to be called out and drive to a behavior change...
Example biased question - Do you prefer random ads for products you may or may not be interested in, or ads targeted to your interests based on your web browsing and location history?
No mention of an option to not receive ads at all.
So much for T-Mobile being the “Uncarrier”.
What people fail to realize is that T-Mo is as crooked as the rest of ’em. They may not have the userbase of Verizon and AT&T in the States but they are part of a larger umbrella based in Europe and they are thirsty for money and influence just like any other telco company. In fact, this was part of the reason they bought out Sprint, they wanted to rub out their closest competitor and now they have the 3rd spot all to themselves. People were jumping for joy because they thought this would mean better service and better deals but then the new CEO took over and look what’s happening. The new plans are not nearly as customer friendly as the old ones and now this news about targeted ads enabled by default.
Of course I say this as a long time AT&T user but I don’t pretend that they’re not shady as heck too. A lot of T-Mo users go there because they think they’re some great company where dreams and rainbows are made but that’s a bunch poppycockle. 😂
What people fail to realize is that T-Mo is as crooked as the rest of ’em. They may not have the userbase of Verizon and AT&T in the States but they are part of a larger umbrella based in Europe and they are thirsty for money and influence just like any other telco company. In fact, this was part of the reason they bought out Sprint, they wanted to rub out their closest competitor and now they have the 3rd spot all to themselves. People were jumping for joy because they thought this would mean better service and better deals but then the new CEO took over and look what’s happening. The new plans are not nearly as customer friendly as the old ones and now this news about targeted ads enabled by default.
Of course I say this as a long time AT&T user but I don’t pretend that they’re not shady as heck too. A lot of T-Mo users go there because they think they’re some great company where dreams and rainbows are made but that’s a bunch poppycockle. 😂
This kind of crap is why I recommend using a VPN. Proton VPN blocks ads and trackers at the server level, and also includes Secure Core for sensitive information. Highly recommended, I cannot imagine using the internet without being on a VPN at all times.
Edit: They have a Mac, iOS and iPadOS app.
protonvpn.com
Edit: They have a Mac, iOS and iPadOS app.
Proton VPN features | Proton VPN
Proton VPN is a fast and reliable Swiss-based VPN that uses premium VPN features to protect your privacy.
protonvpn.com
All the carriers do it and most do not give you an option to opt out, at least they are giving the option, but it should be opt out by default.
Well, I am not.
Also, as I went into the App to opt back out of this, I noticed that my minor child was also opted IN. So apparently, they aren't as vigilant as they would have you believe on opting children out of the program.
Isn't data collection on children like that illegal, even in the US?
WHO - exactly WHO that isn't on T-Mobile's payroll (or one of the data collector's) EVER said they wanted ANY ads at all. At best, that is some convoluted wordsmithing in the survey
Which would you prefer?
1) to lose one or more eyes by having a hot poker shoved into it(them)
2) more relevant ads while surfing the net
If forced to choose, would you take
1) being set on fire and put out with a fork
2) irrelevant ads mostly from porn and dating sites
3) more relevant ads while surfing the net
If you fell down a giant garbage disposal, and were about to be ground to mush, and the only thing that could save you was to have more relevant ads while surfing the net, would you choose more relevant ads while surfing the net?
1) Yes
2) Yes
"Hey Bob, looks like everyone wants more relevant ads while surfing the net! This project is gonna make us rich."
