The crypto community is divided over new upgrades to the Infura API tool from ConsenSys, which will start collecting the IP addresses of its 21 million monthly active users.
MetaMask will start collecting users’ IP addresses and Ethereum wallet addresses during on-chain transactions, under an updated privacy policy agreement published by ConsenSys on Nov. 23.
However, the wallet’s developer, ConsenSys, explains that using Infura, the default Remote Procedure Call (RPC) application provided by MetaMask, will exempt users from the data collecting.
Users of MetaMask who are utilizing their own Ethereum node or an external RPC provider are not covered by the most recent ConsenSys privacy policy. The other RPC provider’s terms are in effect instead.
ConsenSys claims that information obtained in this way may be shared with affiliates, during business transactions, or to satisfy Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering regulations imposed by law enforcement. With more than 21 million monthly active users, MetaMask is presently one of the most well-liked self-custody wallets available.
The cryptocurrency community has largely responded negatively. Adam Cochran, a partner at Cinneamhain Ventures, for instance, said:
“There is nothing more important than consumer privacy, especially when it comes to your financial data — you have a right to be anonymous. Metamask has provided a great free service for a long time, but their decision to log IPs and tie it to transactions is unacceptable.”
ConsenSys is not the only business that has recently decided to increase the quantity of data it gathers from its user base. Recent off-chain data collection by decentralized exchange Uniswap, which claims the move is geared at enhancing user experience, has started.
The user’s first or last name, complete address, date of birth, email address, or IP address were not included in the data collection, according to Uniswap.