Ubuntu’s new opt-in, open-source telemetry is a win-win for Linux users – here’s why

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Operating systems collect data in different ways.
• Linux distributions are transparent about that collection.
• Canonical's making some changes to how it collects information.

Telemetry: the in situ collection of measurements or other data at remote points and their automatic transmission to receiving equipment (telecommunication).

When you mention that word to anyone who's been around technology long enough, you'll probably be given a response akin to derision. That's because most people associate telemetry with an invasion of privacy.

In today's world, companies and services go out of their way to collect data from users because it has value. Data can be used to create profiles for targeted marketing. Data can also be sold. Companies pay anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars per user because they know how troves of user data can help them.

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From the user side of things, that can feel unethical.

No matter the platform you use, telemetry is a thing. Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Facebook, Amazon... Everyone wants to collect your information because it has value. The key is where the value lies. To some companies, the value lies in collecting the data to create profiles on users. To others, it's a means to a profitable end (yes, some do sell your information). 

And then there's Linux. Specifically, Ubuntu.

How Ubuntu does telemetry differently

Canonical's Ubuntu telemetry collection is done out in the open. This was brought to the fore recently when Canonical announced a change to how the company collects data. This was announced on the official Ubuntu Discord, and the company went into great detail about what is to come.

Essentially, Canonical is swapping out an aging system (Ubuntu Report) for something new (Ubuntu Insights). In both systems, telemetry is totally opt-in, and zero personal information is collected.

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Now, hold on. You might be asking, "How do you know that no personal data is collected?" Well, my friends, like with most open-source tools, you can see for yourself.

The telemetry file in Ubuntu is saved in ~/.cache/ubuntu-insights/linux/local/ and is in JSON format. I checked a recently installed Ubuntu 25.10 instance and found the following information in the json file:

{"insightsVersion":"0.6.2","collectionTime":1764081407,"systemInfo":{"hardware":{"product":{"family":"Virtual Machine","name":"VirtualBox","vendor":"innotek GmbH"},"cpu":{"name":"AMD Ryzen 9 7900X 12-Core Processor","vendor":"AuthenticAMD","architecture":"x86_64","cpus":2,"sockets":1,"coresPerSocket":2,"threadsPerCore":1},"gpus":[{"device":"0x0405","vendor":"0x15ad","driver":"vmwgfx"}],"memory":{"size":3402},"disks":[{"size":91750,"type":"disk","children":[{"size":1,"type":"part"},{"size":91750,"type":"part"}]}],"screens":[{"physicalResolution":"1223x873","refreshRate":"60.00"}]},"software":{"os":{"family":"linux","distribution":"Ubuntu","version":"25.10"},"timezone":"UTC","language":"en_US","bios":{"vendor":"innotek GmbH","version":"VirtualBox"}},"platform":{"desktop":{"desktopEnvironment":"ubuntu:GNOME","sessionName":"ubuntu","sessionType":"wayland"}}}}

As you can see, there's zero personal information collected.

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Canonical's new system also goes one step further. 

The telemetry is collected during the installation of the OS and is saved in the ~/.cache/ubuntu-insights/linux/local directory. That information is held there for one week. After the week passes, if the user hasn't opted into sending telemetry, the information remains. If the user has opted in, the information is then sent to the Canonical servers and is copied into the ~/.cache/ubuntu-insights/linux/uploaded directory. You can view that information at any time to know exactly what has been sent.

No information beyond that file is collected. Period. That information is uploaded once per month, in case something changes.

Why do Linux distros bother with telemetry?

The primary reason Linux distributions collect information is spelled out in the Canonical report:

"...the insights that the data provides are genuinely useful for us as developers and publishers. For instance, hardware and display data guide performance and design optimizations and improve Ubuntu itself. Having data on partition types and whether encryption is enabled helps us as developers understand how users of Ubuntu use the cryptographic features we are developing, such as TPM-backed FDE, to stay secure."

There's another very important reason the data is collected. At least with Canonical, that information is shared with hardware vendors to prove there is demand for Linux support on components and peripherals. And because the only information that is collected is very much out in the open, you can trust that nothing personal is being shared or sold.

That reason cannot be overstated. When vendors see hard data that points to a rise in Linux usage, you can bet they'll take supporting the OS seriously. When a vendor takes an OS seriously, it means they'll create drivers, software, or even specific hardware for it.

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Consider this: Let's say Canonical sees a 1,000% rise in telemetry data collected. They can then take that information to, say, HP or Lenovo, and say, "See, more and more people are using Linux, and we have the receipts to prove it." Those companies will take that data seriously, which could lead to more systems sold with Linux preinstalled. It could also positively impact the development of device drivers, allowing more peripherals to be supported on Linux.

This is a win/win situation, where Canonical has data showing what hardware is being used for its OS, what OS is installed, what window system is in place, etc. That paints a specific picture that the company can use to help improve the overall experience.

I realize, for some, this is a hard sell. There are users out there who do not want their personal information shipped off to third parties for any reason. However, the information collected by Ubuntu Insights is harmless and fully transparent. And the fact that it can actually help improve and expand Linux as a whole is a major bonus.

If you're still wary of opting in, know that Canonical has even open-sourced Ubuntu Insights, so anyone can go through the source and verify any and all claims made by Canonical. As well, you can keep a constant watch on the data that is collected and uploaded to Canonical. 

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One might even be so inclined to write a bash script that regularly emails the contents of the telemetry file to an email account for weekly viewing. Of course, you could just manually view the contents of the file, but writing a bash script is always fun.

In all of my years of using Linux, I've never once been concerned that my information was being collected by the OS and used for ill-gotten purposes. If I opt in to telemetry (which I usually do), I trust that the information will help the development teams (or companies) behind the distribution better understand the hardware being used and, with that information, can show important statistics to vendors to prove that their components are in demand for the open-source operating system.

Other operating system developers need to learn this lesson quickly; otherwise, they may continue to see users flocking to Linux in droves.

I'm OK with that.

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