Spotify will soon be collecting a whole lot more information about its users and sharing it with advertising partners.
The streaming service updated its privacy policy to include a raft of new and potentially invasive measures, as Forbes identifies.
Spotify users will now have their location, sensors, voice and photos accessed by the app, which this could be passed on to its partners.
It seems a clear move to combat the growing competition in the market and increase revenue, with the recent launch of Apple Music.
“We may collect information stored on your mobile device, such as contacts, photos or media files,” the updated privacy policy says.
“We may also collection information about your location based on, for example, your phone’s GPS location or other forms of locating mobile devices.
“We may share information with advertising partners in order to send you promotional communications about Spotify or to show you more tailored content.”
Spotify is making no distinctions between paying and free users, the privacy changes will impact both sets of customers.
It appears to only currently be in effect in the UK, but will no doubt spread to the US and Australia soon.
Spotify addressed privacy concerns in a statement to Forbes.
“The data accessed simply helps us to tailor improved experiences to our users, and build new and personalised products for the future,” a spokesperson says.
“Throughout, the privacy and security of our customers’ data is – and will remain – Spotify’s highest priority.”
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Denham Sadler is a former editor of StartupSmart. He was previously a journalist at the publication and has worked as a freelancer for the Guardian, the Saturday Paper and the ABC. In his spare time he likes puns and jaffles.
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