The guide to Spotify Privacy Issues

[Ambivalence]

So yadda, yadda, yadda, Spotify has updated it's Terms of Services. The huge finger is what for? 

What for?

https://news.spotify.com/us/2015/08/21/sorry-2/

They have explained it all in this post.

Tl;dr: Photos are only used when you have explicitly stated to do so, Location is so that they can share what's trending in your area, Voice is for Spotify Voice-Free, Contacts are for Finding Friends (like no duh), and they de-personalise your info, so no-one can see it.

Why the outrage?

This is what I don't get. Spotify has clearly stated what it's uses are. And the fact that they are going to be updating their Privacy Policy in a few weeks as well. The thing is, Spotify isn't the only one to do it, Twitter does it. Is there any outrage? No, because Twitter explained what they will be doing with it.

Still skeptical, can I do anything about it?

iOS

1. Go to Settings
2. Scroll down and hit Spotify
3. Turn Location Services off.

Android

1. Install Moboclean (http://download.moboclean.com/release/MoboClean.apk)
2. Agree to the Terms of Conditions.
3. Click the Purify button and select Spotify (and any other programs).
4. It will prompt to uninstall Spotify, click OK.
5. Afterwards, it will reprompt you to install Spotify, click OK.
6. Click on Spotify and revoke any permissions you don't want.
7. Once finished, click OK and Set All. From now on, Spotify won't be involved with anything doing with any permissions you have revoked.

Windows Phone

1. Head on over to Settings.
2. Then click on Spotify.
3. Click Permissions.
4. Turn off any permissions you want.

Want to cancel your account?

For any reason you want to cancel your account now, here's steps to do so.

Subscribed via Spotify

https://support.spotify.com/au/learn-more/faq/#!/article/How-to-cancel-your-subscription

Subscribed via iOS

https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT202039

Want to get a refund? Contact Spotify Support directly here - https://www.spotify.com/about-us/contact/contact-spotify-support/

[Im_Razorbacked]

Or, another solution would be to access Spotify through a third-party app such as SpotEQ (for iPhone users).  Third-party apps like this don't have to supply Spotify with any of that sensitive info (photos, contacts, motion, location data, or media files).

[smelico]

Are you the SpotEQ developer?

[London3D]

You can vote on this change using your app' store rating button.

[Craythur]

About the outrage:
It mainly is because people see spotify as a "music platform" and not a "social platform" - the new policy is a bit like if a radio-station (as in FM radio) suddenly wanted to be able to browse through the family albums in case you ever requested the dj to play a song.

Funnily enough the main reason I don't use twitter is its "agreements", and its one of the main reasons why I don't use facebook - so pointing to those services are akin to saying "some people are exhibitionists so there are no reason to complain about the camera in the shower".

Also - some people actually work at places where the agreements and not "the stated intent" are what matters.