[MC-237493] Telemetry cannot be disabled

Data collection was reintroduced in 21w38a, but there are no settings that allow to review sent data and disable telemetry.

Expected result:

A button which allows me to review and disable telemetry similar to pre-1.13 'Snooper Settings'.

Observed result:

No telemetry related settings in the options menu.

Linked issues

is duplicated by 3

MC-244117 Violation of GDPR (telemetry is not optional) Resolved

MC-258857 Mandatory telemetry data collection is illegal Resolved

MC-258873 Violation of GDPR Resolved

Attachments

Comments 18

Tokes 2021-09-26T12:35:08Z

"All data is treated according to GDPR and CCPA best practices"

Which require an opt out.

REOPEN THIS ISSUE.

Meri Diana 2021-10-01T14:22:38Z

As a longtime devoted and passionate Minecraft player, I want to voice I fully agree that telemetry should be optional.
It has been in the past as well, and as far as I'm aware in order to be GDPR-compliant, it has to be.
What especially concerns me is getting the XUID, the user identifier.

I do not like someone getting that and whoknowswhatelse in the future without having informed me very thoroughly with some form of agreement text I have to checkbox, and in general without an opt-out option. I do understand that world performance is very important, but please understand that it looks like a pretense, even more so given that there is no opt-out.

In case telemetry is taken solely for people who migrated, this should be voiced officially by Mojang.
I don't see anything in the 21w38a changelog post that would hint on that, hence it is currently just an assumption on my end.

Again, in order for it to be GDPR-etc. -compliant, and in case telemetry is taken solely for migrated accounts, there must be an opt-out-option within the Microsoft Login (after migration), and it also has to be made very clear where it is, and be placed visibly, preferrably upon Login.

[media]

Last but not least, https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/privacy/gdpr is not up to date anymore.

Arisa Bot 2021-10-01T15:02:32Z

⚠️ Please do not add Affected Versions to resolved reports.

Have a look at the Resolution and the comments to see why this ticket has been resolved. If you think this ticket has been resolved erroneously you can contact the Mojira staff on Discord or Reddit.

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MMK21 2021-10-01T15:41:14Z

This is not the place for discussions related to reports: it has been marked as intended, so that is the end of the road for this report. Discussion related to this topic should be taken to other platforms.

Last but not least, https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/privacy/gdpr is not up to date anymore.

JSYK, the Privacy Policy is for the stable branch, not the snapshot branch

Grzesiek11 2021-10-01T15:41:56Z

Not sure if I can do this here, but I made a post about this issue on r/Mojira, as suggested by the above automated response: https://www.reddit.com/r/Mojira/comments/pzakln/mc237493_closed_without_any_explanation/

8 more comments

Meri Diana 2021-10-01T16:05:55Z

I'm aware that discussions are not allowed, especially on closed bugposts, I'm an enfant terrible on Mojira regarding that, but I do this majorly to protect users/players, and/or Mojira mods/helpers, as they may have to endure all of those complaints (and some can be nasty), although Mojira people are not at fault for it whatsoever.

I also created a Redditpost, however on the r/Minecraft Subreddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/pzatop/telemetry_snooper_useridentifiable_data

Aadil Ghalib 2021-11-19T17:05:58Z

First off, I don't think most of those are GDPR compliant. Secondly, if the telemetry servers were to be hacked, someone could easily hack accounts with a MITM attack. There should be an opt out button

Valiant Seventy 2021-12-02T23:29:27Z

Please re-open this issue, as this now affects release versions of Minecraft, not just a snapshot. If I'm not mistaken, this was closed before because snapshots aren't covered under the normal terms of service.

As this "feature" may violate GDPR, it should be considered a bug and this issue should be re-opened. Please see: What are the GDPR consent requirements? - GDPR.eu
Specifically, this "feature" is a problem because the telemetry is identifying, and users cannot play without sending this information.

Furthermore, the following page appears to contain false information on this subject: https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/privacy/gdpr

Regular God 2021-12-03T09:15:28Z

This issue is clearly important to the community given the overwhelming support for it to be reopened. Please consider reopening it. Regardless of official support for this issue, I'd like to inform those reading that there are mods which address it for the fabric loader, which run completely client side.

AntiPopup 2022-04-19T18:08:42Z

This isn't resolved. Please reopen.

user-f2760 2022-04-19T18:15:18Z

Resolution: Works As Intended

Meri Diana 2022-04-19T18:34:56Z

@unknown In case you migrated, use either current OptiFine 1.18.2_HD_U_H7 here to patch the original launcher, there's a telemetry option in Optifine now you can toggle off, explained here.
Alternatively, use PolyMC, available here; it doesn't send telemetry by default.

Edit: This solely disables the telemetry sent by the Minecraft client, it does not disable the telemetry sent from what you're doing within your XBOX account itself, nor does it disable the original launcher's telemetry sent. If you close your launcher, it's still not really closed. Shoot it down in the task manager.

If anything regarding anything related to this topic will change someday and I'm still around, find me, as I'll have everyone know, as soon as I do.

Gamershy 2022-06-08T11:58:53Z

Isn't it like, illegal to force users to give information like this with no way to opt out without them explicitly agreeing to it upon downloading the game? Kinda scummy, Mojang... you're gonna end up killing yourselves at this rate..

user-f2760 2022-06-08T13:27:39Z

I spoke with Moesh about this a while ago, it was the telemetry was reviewed extensively and approved by the legal team. So it doesn't seem this is breaking any GDPR rules.

Meri Diana 2022-06-08T14:55:44Z

It's not up to shrewd, skillful, biased (paid by Microsoft) legal people to determine whether or not something constitutes a violation against e.g. GDPR.
Generally speaking, legal loopholes, BigTech (not only, but also Microsoft) lobby work incl. BigTech stalling GDPR regulation and more exist, data rights protectors know and complain about that.

It's up to those making those regulations, laws, to decide whether or not Microsoft violates e.g. GDPR, be it regarding telemetry or other instances.

And, generally speaking, let me state that even if something is legal, it doesn't necessarily make it right.

dominic03 2022-06-26T01:37:28Z

This is incredibly stupid. You got in trouble with GDPR for having the Snooper, a nice system for seeing what data is collected and choosing whether or not to share it. So you turn around and collect even more data with no way to view any of it or turn it off! Wow, just wow...

MisterPromethian 2023-10-29T18:38:45Z

Even if there is a way to reduce telemetry data collection in 22w46a, it cannot be disabled and even the minimal data setting collects your user data.

Gidan 2024-08-31T03:59:24Z

Just for an information, Telemetry fills up servers with junk logs, making them lose data, unable to launch properly or reset players position/inventory....