Summary:	ASTERISK-28176: Make usage tracking switchable
Reporter:	Sven Joerns (proofy)	Labels:
Date Opened:	2018-11-21 03:26:57.000-0600	Date Closed:	2018-11-21 12:16:14.000-0600
Priority:	Major	Regression?
Status:	Closed/Complete	Components:	Codecs/codec_opus
Versions:	13.0.2	Frequency of Occurrence
Related Issues:
Environment:	All	Attachments:
Description:	I'm not quite sure if it's true, but in the README from Asterisk (http://downloads.digium.com/pub/telephony/codec_opus/asterisk-13.0/x86-64/README) states that the Opus codec always sends anonymous usage data to an Asterisk community server. In the times of the European data protection regulation this is an avoidable problem. Therefore, the usage tracking should at least be switchable off.
Comments:	By: Asterisk Team (asteriskteam) 2018-11-21 03:26:59.392-0600 Thanks for creating a report! The issue has entered the triage process. That means the issue will wait in this status until a Bug Marshal has an opportunity to review the issue. Once the issue has been reviewed you will receive comments regarding the next steps towards resolution. A good first step is for you to review the [Asterisk Issue Guidelines|https://wiki.asterisk.org/wiki/display/AST/Asterisk+Issue+Guidelines] if you haven't already. The guidelines detail what is expected from an Asterisk issue report. Then, if you are submitting a patch, please review the [Patch Contribution Process|https://wiki.asterisk.org/wiki/display/AST/Patch+Contribution+Process]. By: Asterisk Team (asteriskteam) 2018-11-21 03:27:00.147-0600 The severity of this issue has been automatically downgraded from "Blocker" to "Major". The "Blocker" severity is reserved for issues which have been determined to block the next release of Asterisk. This severity can only be set by privileged users. If this issue is deemed to block the next release it will be updated accordingly during the triage process. By: Malcolm Davenport (mdavenport) 2018-11-21 12:15:59.156-0600 In the times of the legal system as it presently exists in the United States, it is not an avoidable problem.  It's there on purpose, and part of our offering Opus for Asterisk means that it must remain on.  If you are unable to use it due to your own concerns, you are free not to. By: Sven Joerns (proofy) 2018-11-22 01:32:35.267-0600 Have I got that right now? My English is not the best and DeepL helps as good as it can. If there are any misunderstandings, I am sorry and apologize. I have now understood the following from your answer: You are only allowed to use the codec in the USA if tracking is active? But why not install a switch so that you can use the software safely in Europe? Or is it so that it is already forbidden in the USA to program a possibility that turns off tracking? Is that why this ticket is stamped from the outset as unfeasible?   Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator By: Asterisk Team (asteriskteam) 2018-11-22 01:32:35.750-0600 This issue has been reopened as a result of your commenting on it as the reporter. It will be triaged once again as applicable. By: Malcolm Davenport (mdavenport) 2018-11-22 06:51:25.987-0600 The tracking, as you call it, involves the codec generating a unique ID on first use, and a daily report of the high-water mark for the number of simultaneous engagements of the Opus encoder and/or decoder. It’s hardly nefarious, and because we don’t know anything about you beyond the unique ID that your system generates for this one purpose, not personally identifiable. It satisfies our requirement that we have an understanding of the absolute usage of the codec. This requirement exists, as I previously intimated, due to the legal system of the United States. The software can be safely used outside of the United States. If you feel that the conditions of its reporting are not safe, that is your interpretation, that you are free to make, and you are free not to use it at all. Here is the original blog post announcement that details it: http://www.digium.com/blog/2016/09/30/opus-in-asterisk/ I am closing this issue report again.