Consensys Announces Update to Metamask Wallet Post Policy Criticism

• MetaMask and Infura, had been collecting users’ wallet and IP addresses.
• ConsenSys said today that it intends to destroy user data after one week.

Since the cryptocurrency community fought back against ConsenSys’ privacy policy last month. The company has given various revisions and explanations about how it handles user data. Last month, when users found out about the practice. Many of them saw it as going against the decentralized, privacy-focused spirit of Ethereum.

Following revelations in November that the company’s flagship products, MetaMask and Infura, had been collecting users’ wallet and IP addresses. The cryptocurrency industry was in an uproar. However, in today’s statement, ConsenSys made it clear that these disclosures “aimed to solely provide greater transparency” and did not constitute a divergence from or modification to the company’s current principles.

Different RPC Configurations

Specifically, ConsenSys said today that it intends to destroy user data after one week and emphasized that data acquired through its cryptocurrency wallet MetaMask and infrastructure provider Infura is never sold to other parties. Users’ wallet information and transaction-specific IP addresses are gathered (rather than simply checking an account balance).

Users of MetaMask will soon be able to change the currently defaulting Infura Remote Procedure Call (RPC) provider to one of their own choosing.

The announcement read:

“There are many good reasons why users may want to use different RPC configurations, in particular hosting their own nodes, and we have always believed that part of the value we offer is in the user’s right to exit our offerings.”

Starting next week, customers will be able to choose their own RPC providers and disable additional services designed to enhance the customer experience if they so wish.

Recommended For You:

MetaMask CEO Criticizes Apple’s 30% Tax Cut on Transactions