GDPR violation: mandatory personalized advertising

[Aditza]

why is forced "personalized" advertising still mandatory in AVAST, with no way to opt for non-targeted ads instead?

maybe you haven't heard yet (WTF, really??!!) but having no way around the "personalization" of adverts is now illegal in Europe.

Having no way to use non-personalized advertising and asking directly for payment instead of ads = GDPR violation.

Google allows app authors to use non-targeted advertising and still keep apps free, but as you're doing it now it's illegal.

https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/7670312

[Aditza]

i got a reply to the Google Play review... it says:

" we are very mindful of privacy and user data. We give users a clear choice between using our full service or the ad-supported free service, and we feel that our approach is in line with the GDPR. Tereza*Avast"

i cannot reply there anymore because i uninstalled Avast Mobile... that reply is an example of comprehension failure. It is completely ignoring the fact that i wasn't complaining about the ads themselves but about the "personalization" of ads.

 As Max Schrems says on noyb.eu:
GDPR prohibits “bundling” - The GDPR prohibits such forced consent and any form of bundling a service with the requirement to consent (see Article 7(4) GDPR). Consequently access to services can no longer depend on whether a user gives consent to the use of data. On this issue a very clear guideline of the European data protection authorities has already been published in November 2017.
http://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/article29/document.cfm?action=display&doc_id=51030

[Jesse, Mobile Product Manager]

All services available on the internet are monetized. There are different ways to support these services, and the two most common ways are charging users a subscription and showing users an ad that is paid for by a company.  The GDPR does not prohibit either of these methods of support.  Under the GDPR, businesses can choose the method that works best for its end users.

In our case, we provide both a free and paid version of our services.  In order to continue letting our users enjoy our products for free, we need to support these products by serving third party ads. Users can choose.  If users choose the free version, third party ads will be displayed.  If users choose the paid version, third party ads will not be displayed.  Please note, with the free version, third party ads will be displayed and this is permissible because users choose this version and we use only anonymous data to display ads.  Please let us know if you have any further concerns.

[Aditza]

i have no problem with anonymous data ads but that's not what that Avast message is saying.

on the contrary, the app is asking for "personalized" advertising permission.... which is the opposite of "anonymous data".



edit: i tried to re-install it and discovered that the same style of message is shown on a fresh install too.

/edit

[Jesse, Mobile Product Manager]

Personalized ads are managed by the third party ad network. When a user chooses to install the free version of software, Avast does not collect the user's name, email address, phone number, or other information identifying the individual. The user is anonymous to Avast. The "personalized" or "interest-based" ads use only device data to serve ads. Users can choose to turn off ads by choosing the paid version of the software. Please let us know if there are any other concerns.

[spooker]

I understand that any violation of the GDPR law WILL result in very heavy fines, I'm sure that if Avast have got this wrong, they will regret it deeply!

I`ll wait and see if the current response comes back to bite.

[bob3160]

I understand that any violation of the GDPR law WILL result in very heavy fines, I'm sure that if Avast have got this wrong, they will regret it deeply!

I`ll wait and see if the current response comes back to bite.

Even in the EU ads are permitted. Sharing your personal information is not and, Avast isn't sharing your personal information.