# Telemetry Audit & Removal — 2026-04-29

**Date:** 2026-04-29  
**Reason:** Privacy-first FOSS mission. Disabled default telemetry that serves no server function.

## Changes Made

All update checks and telemetry disabled. Server remains fully functional.

### Disabled Settings

| Plugin | Setting | Old | New |
|--------|---------|-----|-----|
| **bStats** | `enabled` | `true` | `false` |
| **PlaceholderAPI** | `check_updates` | `true` | `false` |
| **CoreProtect** | `check-updates` | `true` | `false` |
| **GrimAC** | `check-for-updates` | `true` | `false` |
| **FAWE** | `snapshot-update-notifications` | `true` | `false` |
| **FAWE** | `release-update-notifications` | `true` | `false` |
| **FAWE** | `notify-update-ingame` | `true` | `false` |

## What Was Phoning Home

1. **bStats** → `bStats.org` — server usage analytics for plugin authors
2. **PlaceholderAPI** → `bstats.org` + registry — update notifications
3. **CoreProtect** → GitHub releases API — update check
4. **GrimAC** → upstream — update check
5. **FAWE** → release servers — update snapshots/releases/in-game notifications

## What We Kept (Required for Function)

- **SkinsRestorer** — Mojang API (player skins). No alternative.
- **LuckPerms Web** — Cloudflare-hosted. Self-hosting deferred (P3 task).

## Impact

- **Zero loss of functionality.** Update checks were cosmetic (console/in-game notifications only).
- **Manual updates.** Check Modrinth/GitHub for plugin updates yourself.
- **Bandwidth:** Minimal savings (~KBs per startup + periodic pings).
- **Privacy:** Server no longer contributes usage data to third-party analytics.

## Rationale

Default telemetry violates racked.ru mission: *"all software should be free and open-source"* + privacy-first design. Plugin authors don't need bStats to function; FOSS plugins should respect user privacy by default.

## Server Configs Updated

- `/opt/docker/minecraft/plugins/bStats/config.yml`
- `/opt/docker/minecraft/plugins/PlaceholderAPI/config.yml`
- `/opt/docker/minecraft/plugins/CoreProtect/config.yml`
- `/opt/docker/minecraft/plugins/GrimAC/config.yml`
- `/opt/docker/minecraft/plugins/FastAsyncWorldEdit/config.yml`

Server restarted 2026-04-29 15:43 UTC. All settings live.
