Sonos' Privacy Policy Change Suggests It Might Sell Your Data

Popular audio company Sonos recently updated its U.S. privacy policy to make a small but notable change that seemingly puts customer data at risk. As noted by Louis Rossmann (via The Verge), the new Sonos privacy policy removes a line about not selling customer data.

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In the 2023 version of its privacy policy, Sonos had this sentence: "We do not and will not sell your personal data to third parties." The statement has been removed from the 2024 version of the privacy policy in the United States, though it is still present in privacy policies in other countries.

The change to the privacy policy has sparked commentary on Reddit from Sonos customers who have become increasingly unhappy with the company in recent months. Back in May, Sonos rolled out a new app design that has been widely criticized for missing a long list of features like editing a song queue, managing playlists, shuffling a music library, and more.

Sonos users already unhappy with the app changes feel that the privacy policy update is another nail in the coffin for Sonos. From Reddit user RemarkableAgent1350:

What is happening at Sonos? This hurts to read, especially after all the app drama - and from a company that I loved. This just might be the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. I think I'm done with Sonos.

The removal of that line from the privacy policy doesn't mean Sonos is definitely selling customer data, and the company has not responded queries about what the change means as of yet.

Tag: Sonos

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Top Rated Comments

sniffies Avatar
2 weeks ago
New crooks in town.



Here's what I would like Apple Intelligence to be able to do:

Scan Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for any changes and summarize them.



For example:

"Good morning, Tim. You first downloaded this app in 2023. Between then and now, there have been several changes to their Terms of Service. Here is a summary:


* The company no longer promises not to sell user data.
* The company will scan users' private content to train AI without user consent.

Have a nice day. Oh, and enjoy your coffee."
Score: 91 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mrkevinfinnerty Avatar
2 weeks ago
These guys could turn upsetting their customers into an art form.
Score: 46 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ken Linger Avatar
2 weeks ago
While they may not be selling any data today, the removal of the "We won't" clause means that, should they decide to do so, they can without any further announcements or term changes. Thus, you have to assume from this point forward that your data is being sold.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dwman Avatar
2 weeks ago
This says to me they’re bleeding cash because they’re not selling enough speakers and don’t have any kind of recurring revenue stream. Selling customer data is now that revenue.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tennisproha Avatar
2 weeks ago
Sonos: "We may or may not sell your personal data to third parties." ;)

Shout out to the people reading through the T&Cs. Thank you for your service.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Macaholic868 Avatar
2 weeks ago
It’s garbage like this, or even the prospect of it, that makes me one happy camper to live in the Apple ecosystem with the emphasis they put on not just privacy but securing your private data.

Yeah, it’s more expensive then Wintel and Android but it’s great to know Apple is making its money on the hardware and the platform that comes with it and the services they provide that I pay for. To know my personal information is not now and will likely never be the product without a massive fall from grace / change in their very successful business model that we’ll all be aware of should it happen is a huge relief. Especially the lengths they go to in order to secure what they do have.

If I get one more letter from a company I’ve done business with knowingly in some cases or unknowingly in others, where a company I did business with subcontracted work to some other vendor, offering a free year of identity protection or an “oh well, here are some resources you can use” after a breach I’m going to scream.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)