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[[wikipedia:Canonical_(company)|'''Canonical''']] is a software company best known for creating Ubuntu, an Operating system based on Linux. It is largely funded by South African billionaire Mark Shuttleworth.
[[wikipedia:Canonical_(company)|'''Canonical''']] is a software company best known for creating Ubuntu, an Operating system based on Linux. It is largely funded by South African billionaire Mark Shuttleworth.


==Upstreaming==
==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):
* User freedom
* User privacy
* Business model
* Market control}}


Alongside Red Hat and Google, Canonical makes up a substantial portion of upstream security patches in the Linux ecosystem. They maintain AppArmor,<ref>{{Cite web |title=AppArmor |url=https://apparmor.net/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[AppArmor]]}}</ref> a Linux security system that proactively manages threats, Snap,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The app store for Linux |url=https://snapcraft.io/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Snapcraft]]}}</ref> a Linux appstore with sandbox support, and Livepatch,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Livepatch |url=https://docs.kernel.org/livepatch/livepatch.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Livepatch]]}}</ref> a system to patch the Linux kernel without needing to reboot.
== Positives ==


==Tracking==
=== Upstreaming in the Linux ecosystem ===
Alongside Red Hat and [[Google]], Canonical makes up a substantial portion of upstream security patches in the Linux ecosystem. They maintain AppArmor,<ref>{{Cite web |title=AppArmor |url=https://apparmor.net/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[AppArmor]]}}</ref> a Linux security system that proactively manages threats, Snap,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The app store for Linux |url=https://snapcraft.io/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Snapcraft]]}}</ref> a Linux appstore with sandbox support, and Livepatch,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Livepatch |url=https://docs.kernel.org/livepatch/livepatch.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Livepatch]]}}</ref> a system to patch the Linux kernel without needing to reboot.


==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
=== Tracking ===
Canonical collects user telemetry from Snap,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Snap Store metrics |url=https://snapcraft.io/docs/snap-store-metrics |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Snapcraft]]}}</ref> which is shipped by default in Ubuntu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Installing snap on Ubuntu |url=https://snapcraft.io/docs/installing-snap-on-ubuntu |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Snapcraft]]}}</ref>
Canonical collects user telemetry from Snap,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Snap Store metrics |url=https://snapcraft.io/docs/snap-store-metrics |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Snapcraft]]}}</ref> which is shipped by default in Ubuntu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Installing snap on Ubuntu |url=https://snapcraft.io/docs/installing-snap-on-ubuntu |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Snapcraft]]}}</ref>


Previously, Canonical sent local file search queries to their own servers, which were used to recommend ads on Amazon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stallman |first=Richard |date=12 Jul 2012 |title=Ubuntu Spyware: What to do? |url=https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Free Software Foundation]]}}</ref> In 2014, this feature was removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |date=29 Oct 2014 |title=Ubuntu’s Unity 8 desktop will remove the Amazon search ‘spyware’ |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/436097/ubuntus-unity-8-desktop-removes-the-amazon-search-spyware.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[PCWorld]]}}</ref>
Previously, Canonical sent local file search queries to their own servers, which were used to recommend ads on Amazon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stallman |first=Richard |date=12 Jul 2012 |title=Ubuntu Spyware: What to do? |url=https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Free Software Foundation]]}}</ref> In 2014, this feature was removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |date=29 Oct 2014 |title=Ubuntu’s Unity 8 desktop will remove the Amazon search ‘spyware’ |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/436097/ubuntus-unity-8-desktop-removes-the-amazon-search-spyware.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[PCWorld]]}}</ref>


In 2018, telemetry tracking for hardware components, software configuration, and crashes were added in an opt-out model.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-06 |title=How to opt-out usage data collection in Ubuntu 18.04 (bionic)? |url=https://superuser.com/questions/1311588/how-to-opt-out-usage-data-collection-in-ubuntu-18-04-bionic |website=Super User}}</ref>
In 2018, telemetry tracking for hardware components, software configuration, and crashes were added in an opt-out model.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-06 |title=How to opt-out usage data collection in Ubuntu 18.04 (bionic)? |url=https://superuser.com/questions/1311588/how-to-opt-out-usage-data-collection-in-ubuntu-18-04-bionic |website=Super User}}</ref>[[File:Grafik.png|alt=Running apt update in the terminal shows an ad for Ubuntu Pro|thumb|Running apt update in the terminal shows an ad for Ubuntu Pro]]


==Ads==
=== Ad for Ubuntu Pro when using APT (2022.09 - Present) ===
[[File:Grafik.png|alt=Running apt update in the terminal shows an ad for Ubuntu Pro|thumb|Running apt update in the terminal shows an ad for Ubuntu Pro]]
In September 2022, Canonical started adding opt-out<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-09 |title=updates - How to get rid of Ubuntu Pro advertisement when updating apt? |url=https://askubuntu.com/questions/1434512/how-to-get-rid-of-ubuntu-pro-advertisement-when-updating-apt |website=askubuntu.com}}</ref> ads for their Ubuntu Pro service when using APT.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sneddon |first=Joey |date=2023-01-26 |title=Ubuntu's New Terminal 'Ad' is Angering Users |url=https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/10/ubuntu-pro-terminal-ad |website=OMG! Ubuntu}}</ref>
In September 2022, Canonical started adding opt-out<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-09 |title=updates - How to get rid of Ubuntu Pro advertisement when updating apt? |url=https://askubuntu.com/questions/1434512/how-to-get-rid-of-ubuntu-pro-advertisement-when-updating-apt |website=askubuntu.com}}</ref> ads for their Ubuntu Pro service when using APT.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sneddon |first=Joey |date=2023-01-26 |title=Ubuntu's New Terminal 'Ad' is Angering Users |url=https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/10/ubuntu-pro-terminal-ad |website=OMG! Ubuntu}}</ref>
==Products==
* Ubuntu
==See also==
{{Placeholder box|Link to relevant theme articles or companies with similar incidents.}}


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 14:40, 17 January 2026

Canonical
Basic information
Founded 2004
Legal Structure Private
Industry Computing
Also known as
Official website https://www.canonical.com/

Canonical is a software company best known for creating Ubuntu, an Operating system based on Linux. It is largely funded by South African billionaire Mark Shuttleworth.

Consumer-impact summary

Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):

  • User freedom
  • User privacy
  • Business model
  • Market control

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.

Positives

Upstreaming in the Linux ecosystem

Alongside Red Hat and Google, Canonical makes up a substantial portion of upstream security patches in the Linux ecosystem. They maintain AppArmor,[1] a Linux security system that proactively manages threats, Snap,[2] a Linux appstore with sandbox support, and Livepatch,[3] a system to patch the Linux kernel without needing to reboot.

Incidents

This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the Canonical category.

Tracking

Canonical collects user telemetry from Snap,[4] which is shipped by default in Ubuntu.[5]

Previously, Canonical sent local file search queries to their own servers, which were used to recommend ads on Amazon.[6] In 2014, this feature was removed.[7]

In 2018, telemetry tracking for hardware components, software configuration, and crashes were added in an opt-out model.[8]

Running apt update in the terminal shows an ad for Ubuntu Pro
Running apt update in the terminal shows an ad for Ubuntu Pro

Ad for Ubuntu Pro when using APT (2022.09 - Present)

In September 2022, Canonical started adding opt-out[9] ads for their Ubuntu Pro service when using APT.[10]

Products

  • Ubuntu

See also

Link to relevant theme articles or companies with similar incidents.

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.

References

  1. ↑ "AppArmor". AppArmor. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ "The app store for Linux". Snapcraft. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ "Livepatch". Livepatch. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "Snap Store metrics". Snapcraft. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ "Installing snap on Ubuntu". Snapcraft. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ Stallman, Richard (12 Jul 2012). "Ubuntu Spyware: What to do?". Free Software Foundation. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ↑ Hoffman, Chris (29 Oct 2014). "Ubuntu's Unity 8 desktop will remove the Amazon search 'spyware'". PCWorld. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ↑ "How to opt-out usage data collection in Ubuntu 18.04 (bionic)?". Super User. 2018-04-06.
  9. ↑ "updates - How to get rid of Ubuntu Pro advertisement when updating apt?". askubuntu.com. 2022-10-09.
  10. ↑ Sneddon, Joey (2023-01-26). "Ubuntu's New Terminal 'Ad' is Angering Users". OMG! Ubuntu.
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