ConsenSys, the wallet’s creator, explains that the collection of users’ data will only apply if they use MetaMask’s default Remote Procedure Call (RPC) application, Infura.
Therefore, individuals using their own Ethereum node or a third-party RPC provider with MetaMask are not subject to the newly updated ConsenSys privacy policy.
Remarkably, Infura is vital to the Ethereum blockchain. The tool is used by many notable Web3 projects such as Polygon, Filecoin, Aragon, Gnosis and OpenZeppelin.
Adam Cochran, Partner at Cinneamhain Ventures commented that ’the MetaMask is worse than it even looked at first.’
He refers to a tweet from Micha Zoltu;
’Not just collecting data when you send a tx – the moment you unlock the wallet it records ALL your addresses under the same IP.’
MetaMask browser wallet has over 21 million monthly active users, and the reactions from users expecting their privacy protection from the Web3 world have been critical. Some users find this policy update controversial as one of the key tenets of blockchain and cryptocurrency is privacy and pseudonymous interactions.
ConsenSys explains that the purpose of the policy update was to provide a more detailed explanation of the company’s data collection methods, and to provide transparency.
According to the company, the information collected may be disclosed to affiliates, during business deals, or to comply with KYC and Anti-Money Laundering requirements dictated by law enforcement.
One Twitter user wrote, ’Protect your privacy! With the recent news that Metamask/Infura is collecting your IP and wallet addresses, I urge you to take the time to change your RPC.’
Maybe this gives us the opportunity to dig in to the blockchain tech part more, to protect our privacy.
Author: Crypto Shoks
Reference: https://cointelegraph.com/news/metamask-will-start-collecting-user-ip-addresses
