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Comment by azinman2 | Hacker News Reader

What is this telemetry? My OS, computer model, IP, and VSCode version? Why is this so bad in comparison to any other web application or many other apps these days? I know many are up in arms about it, but what exactly is the hidden danger here? More ads about computer studs sold via a the meager Bing ads market?

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The problem is other people treating other people's hardware as their playground.

We've gone too long without a reckoning as software authors in this regard. You are not entitled to do whatever you wish with someone else's hardware because of a click through. Those that continue to do so will be (in my case) blacklisted from running on my network.

The user entitle software when they install it & give privileges. The issue has to be solved upstream. Instead of blaming software vendors, we have to build the systems to take back control.

Software that disregards the users wishes when you run it used to be called malware. An install is not an entitlement to do whatever you want. Software vendors are the ones writing this malware so why should they not be blamed.

for some, simply not allowing me to opt-out without using other mechanisms (some sort of internal firewall etc) is enough. It's my computer, my network, and I get to say precisely how it is used; and that includes telemetry.

There are other threats and reasons, that others more versed in this can explain, but that is the one I can speak to.

>It's my computer, my network, and I get to say precisely how it is used

That is only realistic on linux. Everything else us just something you've rented.

Besides, you can always go for independent vscode clone. I don't know how good it is as i haven't tried it myself. I just know it exists.

Linux may be the only kernel (and general class of operating systems) that is capable of robust transparency and control, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a common ideal among more general computer users. The argument I hear most frequently is that users are fairly oblivious to one or more of these points:

- That data is collected

- That you or your device can be identified from data

- That data does not have an expiration

- How the data is used (eg: multi-use, for troubleshooting, for marketing)

There are multiple ways to democratize knowledge, but most ideal is having companies just be upfront and teaching engineers why it's important to stress building notifications and/or levers for these kinds of capabilities.

A lot of the people who care this much also use Linux, so this is somewhat of a moot point.

> simply not allowing me to opt-out ...

But let's note that this is not the case here. You can still opt out. If they are just resetting your old settings silently, however, then this is not a nice move and it will annoy exactly the people that care.

> they are just resetting your old settings silently

That kind of behavior bis frowned upon in this establishment

It doesn't matter. What matters - if these reports are true - is how they treat their users with these dark patterns. You just don't treat other people like that, it's just basic human decency.

And also there’s a legitimate slippery slope here. “Come on, this data they are sending is not sensitive” may apply today, but after you’ve opted in, now your job is perpetually keeping track of what new information they send in the future to make sure your assessment is still true. If there is a big off switch, the only thing we have to pay attention to is whether or not they are honoring that off switch.

> My OS, computer model, IP, and VSCode version?

Right now, maybe. Or maybe more. Are you happy agreeing to it without being told? Being auto-enrolled without being told? What about if they add more later and don't feel the need to tell you as you didn't make the effort to opt out so must be happy with the tracking?

> Why is this so bad in comparison to any other web application or many other apps these days?

Because others do it doesn't make it right. People rail against web properties using what is seen as overly invasive telemetry/fingerprinting/profiling dark patterns too.

> but what exactly is the hidden danger here?

More information stored about you in more places, from whence it can leak further or dubious authorities can demand it be released, is a common fear in such cases for privacy campaigners and campaigners in general within the reach of certain governments.

(if people downvoting would like to let me know why, I'd be genuinely interested to know your counter point(s), otherwise I'm just going to assume that what I have said is true and you don't like it)

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