Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the increasing reliance of tea and coffee brands, including Starbucks, on self-built apps and mini-programs for user data collection and targeted marketing, while highlighting the privacy concerns associated with excessive personal information collection [1][3][10]. Group 1: Privacy Concerns - Starbucks China is facing a privacy complaint due to its app sending location-based promotional notifications, raising concerns about user tracking [1][3]. - The use of "geo-fencing" technology by Starbucks has been criticized for potentially violating privacy regulations, as users were not adequately informed about the marketing use of their location data [5][6][7]. - The company's privacy policy did not clearly state the use of location data for marketing purposes, which is a requirement under China's personal information protection laws [7][10]. Group 2: Industry Practices - The article notes that excessive data collection practices are common in the tea and coffee industry, with consumers expressing dissatisfaction over the collection of personal information such as phone numbers and location [10][11]. - Regulatory bodies have begun to scrutinize these practices, with Starbucks and other brands like Luckin Coffee and CoCo being called out for improper data collection [10][11]. - The competitive landscape in the digitalized restaurant market is driving brands to rely heavily on user data for targeted marketing and customer retention strategies [10][11]. Group 3: Company Response - In response to the complaints, Starbucks confirmed that it has discontinued the location-based promotional feature and emphasized its commitment to user privacy and experience improvement [8][11]. - The company is under pressure to enhance its promotional strategies, as indicated by a recent decline in average transaction value despite a growth in store transaction volume [11].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the increasing reliance of tea and coffee brands, including Starbucks, on self-built apps and mini-programs for user data collection and targeted marketing, while highlighting the privacy concerns associated with excessive personal information collection [1][10]. Group 1: Privacy Concerns - Starbucks China is facing a privacy complaint due to its app sending location-based promotional notifications, raising concerns about user tracking [1][3]. - The use of "geo-fencing" technology by Starbucks to send notifications when users are near stores has been criticized for not being clearly stated in the app's privacy policy [4][5]. - The article emphasizes that location information is sensitive personal data and must be handled with care, requiring clear consent and purpose disclosure according to domestic regulations [7][8]. Group 2: Industry Practices - The article notes that the collection of user data, including phone numbers and location, has become standard practice in the food and beverage industry, leading to consumer dissatisfaction [10]. - Regulatory bodies have begun to scrutinize companies like Starbucks for their practices of inducing users to provide personal information, with multiple companies being called out for similar issues [10][11]. - The competitive landscape in the food and beverage sector is driving brands to rely heavily on data for digital operations, marketing, and customer retention strategies [10][11]. Group 3: Company Responses - In response to the complaints, Starbucks confirmed that the location-based promotional feature has been discontinued and expressed commitment to improving privacy protection and user experience [8][11]. - The article highlights that Starbucks is under pressure to enhance promotions and customer engagement through its app, especially as it faces competition from other brands like Luckin Coffee, which has successfully built a large user base [11].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the growing concern over privacy issues related to location-based marketing strategies employed by coffee and tea brands, particularly Starbucks China, which has faced complaints regarding excessive personal data collection and marketing push notifications based on users' real-time locations [1][4][8]. Group 1: Privacy Concerns - Starbucks China is facing a privacy complaint due to its app sending location-based promotional notifications, raising concerns about being "tracked" by the app [4][8]. - The use of "geo-fencing" technology by Starbucks, which triggers notifications when users are near a store, has been criticized for not being clearly outlined in the app's privacy policy [5][6][8]. - The article highlights that many consumers have expressed dissatisfaction with the excessive collection of personal information by digital food and beverage services, indicating a broader trend in the industry [4][9]. Group 2: Regulatory Environment - Regulatory bodies have begun to scrutinize the practices of companies like Starbucks for frequently soliciting sensitive personal information, leading to multiple investigations and warnings [9][10]. - The article notes that in June 2023, Starbucks was among 64 mobile applications cited for improper collection and use of personal information [9]. Group 3: Industry Trends - The competitive landscape in the beverage industry is driving companies to rely heavily on data for digital operations, marketing, and customer retention strategies [9][10]. - Starbucks reported a 4% increase in store transaction volume for 2025, but a 5% decrease in average transaction value, prompting the company to enhance promotional efforts through its app [9][10]. - Other brands in the industry, such as Luckin Coffee and CoCo, have also faced similar complaints regarding data privacy, indicating a widespread issue across the sector [9][10].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the implications of location-based marketing in the food and beverage industry, particularly focusing on Starbucks China and the privacy concerns arising from its use of geofencing technology for targeted promotions. Group 1: Company-Specific Insights - Starbucks China has faced privacy complaints regarding its app's use of geolocation to send promotional notifications to users, raising concerns about being "tracked" [1][2] - The company confirmed that it has discontinued the geolocation-based promotional feature in response to user feedback and is committed to improving privacy protection [5] - Starbucks has previously been criticized for excessive data collection practices, including the solicitation of personal information such as phone numbers and location data [5][6] Group 2: Industry Trends and Challenges - The food and beverage industry is increasingly relying on digital tools and data collection for competitive advantage, with many brands, including Luckin Coffee and CoCo, also facing scrutiny for similar privacy issues [6][7] - The competitive landscape has intensified, with Starbucks reporting a 4% increase in store transaction volume but a 5% decrease in average transaction value, prompting the company to enhance promotional efforts [6][7] - The reliance on user data for personalized marketing raises significant privacy concerns, necessitating compliance with regulations that require clear user consent and purpose disclosure [4][7]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the privacy concerns surrounding Starbucks China's use of location-based marketing through its app, highlighting the tension between digital marketing strategies and compliance with personal information protection laws. Group 1: Privacy Concerns - Starbucks China faces a privacy complaint regarding its app's use of location-based push notifications, which some users perceive as intrusive tracking [1][3] - The app's privacy policy does not explicitly mention the use of location data for marketing purposes, raising compliance issues under China's personal information protection laws [3][4] - The company confirmed that the location-based marketing feature has been discontinued in response to user feedback [3] Group 2: Industry Practices - The use of location services for marketing is common in the beverage industry, with many brands collecting sensitive personal information such as phone numbers and location data [4][5] - Other companies in the industry, including Luckin Coffee and CoCo, have also faced scrutiny for similar practices of excessive data collection [4][5] - The competitive landscape in the beverage market drives companies to rely heavily on user data for personalized marketing and customer retention strategies [5] Group 3: Regulatory Environment - Regulatory bodies have begun to focus on the practices of beverage brands regarding personal information collection, with multiple companies being called out for violations [4][5] - The article notes that in June 2023, Starbucks and 64 other mobile applications were reported for improper collection and use of personal information [4]