[theme-reviewers] tracking code in themes

[Chip Bennett]

On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 3:01 PM, George Ortiz <george at venturengine.com>wrote:

> Chip, can I quote you on our site?
>
> "In fact, I wish WordPress.org itself provided this kind of data
> publicly."
> - Chip Bennet, WordPress.org Theme Reviewer
>

[CITATION NEEDED]

>
> We're obviously really concerned and stay pretty strict on any data coming
> across our API. Currently, we aggregate information back to theme authors
> as another form of keeping data private and anonymous.
>
> There is a huge value for both the theme authors and the end-users. Which
> is why we released a plugin for content creators<http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/presstrends/>
> .
>
> I completely understand the policy. I do however want to question the
> default opt-in setting. It's just as easy for end-users to opt-out as it is
> to opt-in. Statistically, most people just stick with default options
> regardless of their thoughts or feelings. As PressTrends is backed by many
> top WordPress users and advocates, is there anyway you would reconsider the
> default of opt-out rather than opt-in?
>

This policy has nothing to do with the integrity of the developers, but
rather has everything to do with the right of end users to control what,
where, and how their own data are used.

That most users tend to use default settings is all the MORE reason for
such a service to be disabled by default. By this very admission, you
recognize that any end user data sent via this service would NOT be sent
with the informed consent of the end user.

"Informed user consent" is the bottom line here.

Chip
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