How to Prevent MoviePass From Tracking Your Location
Just yesterday, we learned that MoviePass actively tracks your location – and not only when you’re in the theater or otherwise using the app. Your first instinct might be an angry refusal, but what if you could keep watching movies on the cheap without sacrificing your digital privacy?
Here’s how to stop MoviePass from tracking you without giving up on what is otherwise a pretty great deal.
How MoviePass Tracks You
Officially, the company’s privacy policy states that it needs your location in order to help you choose the closest theater. Sounds fair enough, but it’s not entirely true.
Speaking at a recent presentation, MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe revealed that the app can also track where you go before and after each movie. He may even say “how do you go from home to the cinema.”
MoviePass told The Verge that it will not sell this information. Instead, he looks for ways to improve your overall experience. However, if you’re feeling a little intimidated, you can turn off location tracking entirely, at least until the company updates its privacy policy.
How to prevent MoviePass from tracking you on iPhone
If you are using MoviePass on an iOS device, there are several different ways to prevent the app from tracking your location. The first is to block it from the start. When you sign up for MoviePass, the app will ask you to turn on location services, and then it will offer you three options: Always Allow, Do Not Allow, or Only When Using the App. If you choose the third one, the application will not track you until you actively use it.
If you’ve already set up MoviePass and given it complete leeway to track your location, you’re out of luck. Just open the Settings app on your iPhone and scroll down to MoviePass. Select it, then click on Location and change the resolution from there. You can also do the same by going to Settings, then Privacy, and then Location Services, which will show you all the other apps that track your movements as well.
How to prevent MoviePass from tracking you on Android
Protecting your privacy with MoviePass is no different if you prefer Android over iOS. For starters, if you’re setting up an app, you can turn off location tracking right away. Just select “Only when using the app” when you get to the location services step.
You can also turn off MoviePass location tracking in the Android Settings app at any time. Just open the app and select “Applications” or “Application manager” depending on your device. Then find MoviePass, select it and click Permissions. You should see the location tracking along with any other permissions the app may have. Turn it off and you’re done.