Consensys, the blockchain software company behind MetaMask, a decentralized Web3 wallet, has come under fire from its users for updating its privacy policy. The software company updated its policy on November 23rd.
The new policy informs MetaMask users that their IP ( Internet Protocol) and Ethereum wallet addresses will be collected when interacting with MetaMask. It will only be possible using MetaMask’s RPC (Remote Procedure Call) provider, Infura. If you are the owner of your RPC, then your IP and wallet address is safe. Infura is a service provider used by MetaMask to get information on and off the blockchain.
Consensys stated:
“When you use Infura as your default RPC provider in MetaMask, Infura will collect your IP address and your Ethereum wallet address when you send a transaction. However, if you’re using your own Ethereum node or a third-party RPC provider with MetaMask, then neither Infura nor MetaMask will collect your IP address or Ethereum wallet address.”
The new development sparked a lot of debate in the crypto community. Many users were dissatisfied with the update. MetaMask is a decentralized application used to connect to Web3 protocols. It supports data privacy for the average user. Switching it up to collect user data and store personal information didn’t sit well with the majority.
A Twitter user known as Gooniebrad threatened to stop using the app. He said, “it was fun while it lasted at MetaMask, but I value my privacy in this space.” Others welcomed the update with open arms, stating that you have a choice to make about whether they collect your data.
Most users believe this update reduces the privacy of Ethereum users on MetaMask. Some users suggested using a VPN to conceal their locations. This only solves one problem, as users’ wallet addresses can still be obtained. A famous Ethereum advocate on Twitter suggested switching RPCs for convenience.
This development comes right after Uniswap, a decentralized exchange, made a similar update to their policy.
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