adstudio-assets.scdn.co: How Spotify Tracks You for Ads

Spotify’s tracker, adstudio-assets.scdn.co, is part of its Ad Studio platform, delivering audio ads while collecting data on your listening habits. This invasive tracking builds profiles for targeted advertising. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is adstudio-assets.scdn.co?

This domain serves ad content for Spotify’s free tier users, monitoring your interactions with ads and music. It gathers personal data to tailor advertisements, which compromises your privacy. As Privacy Auditors, we’re alarmed by how much it tracks.

Data It Collects

When you stream on Spotify, it captures:

• IP Address: Tracks your location via your internet connection.
• Listening History: Logs your songs, playlists, and genres.
• Ad Interactions: Records if you click or skip ads.
• User ID: Links your actions to a unique Spotify account.
• Device Type: Identifies your phone or speaker.
• Browser Type: Notes details like Chrome 120.0.
• Timestamps: Logs exact times of interactions.

This data maps out your music tastes for ad targeting.

Who Gets Your Data?

Spotify shares your info with:

• Advertiser: Companies using Spotify Ad Studio get targeting insights.
• Third-Party Adtech Partner: Processes data for ad campaigns.
• Government Entity: If legally required, per Spotify’s privacy disclosures.

How to Protect Yourself

At Privacy Auditors, we’re here to safeguard your privacy. Here’s how to block this tracker:

• Use Ad Blockers: Privacy Auditor’s paid service can stop adstudio-assets.scdn.co scripts.
• Mask with a VPN: Hide your IP using a VPN like Mullvad.
• Limit Spotify Data: Adjust privacy settings in the app to restrict sharing.
• Clear Cookies: Delete tracking cookies to disrupt profiling.

Combine these steps to cut down on Spotify’s tracking.

Sources

• Spotify Privacy Policy: https://www.spotify.com/legal/privacy-policy/
• Spotify Ad Studio: https://adstudio.spotify.com/

This is a legal disclaimer. All information is provided for educational purposes only.