The Backlash of MetaMask Stealing Users’ Data

MetaMask users took to Twitter to voice outrage concerning the crypto and NFT wallet stealing the data of its Infura users without consent

On November 23, 2022, ConsenSys published the most recent version of MetaMask’s privacy policy. The document states that if users’ use Metamask’s default third-party Remote Procedure Call (RPC) provider, Infura, information on the users’ IP and Ethereum wallet addresses are collected.

Quick Take: 

• MetaMask’s privacy policy states it collects Infura users’ private information during transactions.
• The crypto and NFT community took to Twitter to voice concerns (and rightly so).

MetaMask’s New Privacy Policy – Important Elements

MetamMask’s privacy policy states that ConsenSys—the blockchain venture studio supporting numerous projects within the Ethereum ecosystem—is collecting the private data of MetaMask’s Infura users.

This new policy states:

As you can see, MetaMask will collect all Infura users’ identity. This includes contact, profile, financial, marketing, and technical information.

Considering there are 21 million monthly active users, many Infura members will be affected. Whether they like it or not.

Twitter Backlash and Final Thoughts

This new policy is said to help MetaMask to adhere to laws, such as know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations—to minimize the risk of anonymous NFT and crypto traders.

Nevertheless, the wallet takes this data without consent. So, many users are taking to the social channel to voice their concerns (and we don’t blame them):

I don’t trust MetaMask, it’s owned by ConsenSys

DYOR on ConsenSys and you will see why…

— Gideon Heilpern (@gideonheilpern2) November 24, 2022

Unsurprisingly, other crypto wallet companies are jumping on the bandwagon to gain more traction:

Angry that #MetaMask is going to start collecting even more of your information, now including your IP address?

We have never, and will **never** collect identifiable information from our users. Because that's what makes #crypto better.

C'mon over👇 https://t.co/qtP4b93wNy

— MyEtherWallet | MEW (@myetherwallet) November 24, 2022

Whereas other users are taking to the social channel to direct people about how to better protect themselves, without leaving the crypto and NFT wallet entirely:

So MetaMask says "Just don't use Infura" – so let's see how easy MetaMask makes it to "not use Infura".

Part 1 – Installation:

The first two screens are straight forward here. They seem to provide a clear privacy policy, that's good. pic.twitter.com/9HqLo4h18U

— Chase Wright (mysticryuujin.eth) (@mysticryuujin) November 25, 2022

After receiving a large amount of backlash, the MetaMask team responded with a rather counterproductive tweet that did not help matters:

That's not satisfactory. Sorry not sorry. ConsenSys owns Infura and MetaMask. JP Morgan has a controlling stake in ConsenSys. You're collecting our info for no particular reason? I don't trust you. I've changed my RPC for now but will try out BlockWallet to ultimately ditch MM.

— tangentia (@tangentia1) November 25, 2022

Yet again, Twitter hasn’t failed us regarding NFT and crypto-related news and drama.

If the team behind the crypto wallet proceeds to act abruptly and insensitively, it looks like MetaMask’s success may be on the line.

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