[wp-hackers] Automatic feedback from users

[Callum Macdonald]

Omry Yadan wrote:
> users that opt not to provide statistical information should not be
> punished by reducing the functionality in any way.
>   
I generally agree if the statistics can be traced to an individual. 
However, if we keep the stats anonymous so there's no user data, I think 
it's ok to track them automatically as part of the core functionality.

The bottom line is, by analysing the server stats we could tell how many 
people had what plugins installed. If I want to check for a new version, 
I have to send a request somewhere with the name of the plugin and ask 
for the latest version number. Standard web logs will store the remote 
IP and the plugin name.

If we don't store the remote IP in the stats, then I see no privacy or 
other issues of stat collecting.

Cheers - Callum.

PS> I'm a privacy nut, I don't use Google except through a separate 
browser proxied to a single IP because I don't like their privacy 
policy. On the other hand, I have no issue with anonymous stats! :)