[...]
We collect data regarding the users of Last.fm, including: (i) The Internet Protocol (IP) address of the user’s computer. This may or may not be associated with a particular Internet Service Provider (ISP);
[...]
We log certain information concerning the listening, skipping and music-sharing activities of users and other activities whilst they use the Website, and we may match such information with personally identifiable information concerning such users.
[...]

They spam you? [...]We may also use such personal information to send you notices, on behalf of others and ourselves, regarding products and services that we think may be of interest to you.[...]

[...]
Your username, together with other information concerning your use of the Last.fm Website, as well as any personal information included in your user profile, will be made available via Last.fm’s open application interface (the “API”), which forms part of our ‘AudioScrobbler’ technology. See section 11 below for further details.
[...]
What exactly is “other information concering your use of the last.fm Website? They already admitted that they collect your IP and email some paragraphs above that one!

[...]
Last.fm complies with the Data Protection Act 1998 (the “Act”), including UK amending legislation and E.U. Directives. Pursuant to the Act, you have the right to be informed of, and to have access to, all of the personally identifiable information we hold about you, and you may do so by visiting your user profile when logged-in to your account on the Website, or by e-mailing us at: legal@last.fm
[...]

[...]Certain third party individuals or organisations may have access to your personal information (excluding your email contact information) via Last.fm’s API and webservices or as a result of agreements between Last.fm and its preferred partners.[...]

“Certain third party individuals or organisations may have” “Certain” -> Who? “may have” -> you don’t want to categorical deny that you not give stuff to “certain third parties” [like the riaa for example?] which you define as personal information?
Now what a company is that? Oh, I forgot, its a CBS company which is owned (as far as i remember) by Sony which is with the RIAA and the evil4 labels

“Social music site Last.fm has been bought by US media giant CBS Corporation for $280m (£140m), the largest-ever UK Web 2.0 acquisition” – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6701863.stm

Answers to your other questions pending …

Cheers!

Cheers!

Please RJ is not me …. he is someone else … i had just commented on his comment …

The editor should correct it …

The only IP addie I see is a loopback – NET-127-0-0-0-1

Cheers!

1. Why does Mr. Padhy preface his “denial” with “As far as I am concerned….”?

2. Doesn’t Mr. Padhy admit that Last.fm is owned by CBS?

3. Doesn’t Mr. Padhy admit that he works with the “major labels” and provides them with data?

When I looked at it, I felt this was a potential for violation of privacy. I wouldn’t sign up for it.

One thing you should always consider. If the service offered doesn’t do something for you, then don’t just jump on the bandwagon. You’re always going to give up some data, just by showing up. How much you give depends on what you are willing to see as allowable. If you don’t care about your privacy, no one else will. Another consideration you should always keep in mind is that today’s operational methods are not necessarily tomorrow’s. Either the place can be bought out, or court order can demand what would not be given with permission if it is available. You know your info is not available if you aren’t there.

Now I have no idea if the article statements are true, no idea if last.fm is covering up or it’s really the way it is, no idea if the statements are made of whole cloth or an attempt at saving membership rolls. Nor do I care in the sense of the site as I don’t go there.

As NO1UNO makes mention of, I love p2pnet just because I can comment without having to do some sort of site identification. I can’t remove what ever IP is recorded as the connection place other than using proxy but I don’t have to reveal personal data to participate. It is one of the reasons I’m loyal to this site and have been for a long time.

I simply value my privacy. I have no schemes, no evil intentions, no dastardly deeds, planned beyond stating my personal opinions. If I recommend some product or software, it isn’t a spam, it’s because I have found it an answer to some problem stated, such as the thread on the Adobe hack. I would share what works for me to save others the headache and time of maybe discovering it for them selves or maybe not. At the same time, I don’t want my private data all over the net for the privilege of offering a helping hand when I can. The privacy factor is paramount to me, the helping hand comes in second place to that.

If they don’t like the “cover-up” accusation, sorry, but welcome to the world where people are guilty until proven innocent. Citizens suffer from it, why should corporations be any different (since those who take this ‘guilty until proven innocent’ approach are actually corporations and/or organizations supported by corporations).

However, unlike the groups I was referring to who support the ‘guilty until proven innocent’ approach, I am willing to give Last.FM the benefit of the doubt and hopefully it won’t come out in the wash they actually DID hand over the information.

Let this be a wake-up call to all of us, actually read carefully anything before you agree to it!!!