ConsenSys Addresses MetaMask IP Address Harvesting, Says Nothing Has Changed

ConsenSys indicates that IP address data collected through MetaMask users will not be monetized or "mined".

After community backlash following an initial privacy policy revision on November 23, ConsenSys, MetaMask's parent company, released a statement to reiterate its data collection intentions.

The company said the policy has always explained how certain types of personal information is automatically collected, which may include IP addresses. According to ConsenSys, the latest updates were in the act of transparency as to how Infura, MetaMask's default remote procedure call (RPC), works with user data.

ConsenSys pointed out that MetaMask itself does not collect IP addresses. Rather, the policy states that users running the wallet through Infura apps are subject to data collection.

In a tweet, the company claimed that only the language of the policy had been updated and that "nothing" else regarding the policy or data collection was different.

Speaking to Cointelegraph, ConsenSys said:

"Infura does not misuse this information and ConsenSys does not monetize this information as some Web2 companies do."

According to Consensys, Infura is currently investigating technical updates to "minimize the collection of personal information, including anonymization techniques and the minimization and elimination of all data collection and retention".

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