Make Posthog telemetry the default (#7909)

Co-authored-by: ellipsis-dev[bot] <65095814+ellipsis-dev[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>

Author: mrubens

PRIVACY.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Roo Code Privacy Policy
 
-**Last Updated: August 20th, 2025**
+**Last Updated: September 11th, 2025**
 
 Roo Code respects your privacy and is committed to transparency about how we handle your data. Below is a simple breakdown of where key pieces of data go—and, importantly, where they don’t.
 
@@ -10,19 +10,19 @@ Roo Code respects your privacy and is committed to transparency about how we han
 - **Commands**: Any commands executed through Roo Code happen on your local environment. However, when you use AI-powered features, the relevant code and context from your commands may be transmitted to your chosen AI model provider (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter) to generate responses. We do not have access to or store this data, but AI providers may process it per their privacy policies.
 - **Prompts & AI Requests**: When you use AI-powered features, your prompts and relevant project context are sent to your chosen AI model provider (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter) to generate responses. We do not store or process this data. These AI providers have their own privacy policies and may store data per their terms of service. If you choose Roo Code Cloud as the provider (proxy mode), prompts may transit Roo Code servers only to forward them to the upstream model and are not stored.
 - **API Keys & Credentials**: If you enter an API key (e.g., to connect an AI model), it is stored locally on your device and never sent to us or any third party, except the provider you have chosen.
-- **Telemetry (Usage Data)**: We only collect feature usage and error data if you explicitly opt-in. This telemetry is powered by PostHog and helps us understand feature usage to improve Roo Code. This includes your VS Code machine ID and feature usage patterns and exception reports. We do **not** collect personally identifiable information, your code, or AI prompts.
-- **Marketplace Requests**: When you browse or search the Marketplace for Model Configuration Profiles (MCPs) or Custom Modes, Roo Code makes a secure API call to Roo Code’s backend servers to retrieve listing information. These requests send only the query parameters (e.g., extension version, search term) necessary to fulfill the request and do not include your code, prompts, or personally identifiable information.
+- **Telemetry (Usage Data)**: We collect anonymous feature usage and error data to help us improve Roo Code. This telemetry is powered by PostHog and includes your VS Code machine ID, feature usage patterns, and exception reports. This telemetry does **not** collect personally identifiable information, your code, or AI prompts. You can opt out of this telemetry at any time through the settings.
+- **Marketplace Requests**: When you browse or search the Marketplace for Model Configuration Profiles (MCPs) or Custom Modes, Roo Code makes a secure API call to Roo Code's backend servers to retrieve listing information. These requests send only the query parameters (e.g., extension version, search term) necessary to fulfill the request and do not include your code, prompts, or personally identifiable information.
 
 ### **How We Use Your Data (If Collected)**
 
-- If you opt-in to telemetry, we use it to understand feature usage and improve Roo Code.
+- We use telemetry to understand feature usage and improve Roo Code.
 - We do **not** sell or share your data.
 - We do **not** train any models on your data.
 
 ### **Your Choices & Control**
 
 - You can run models locally to prevent data being sent to third-parties.
-- By default, telemetry collection is off and if you turn it on, you can opt out of telemetry at any time.
+- Telemetry collection is enabled by default to help us improve Roo Code, but you can opt out at any time through the settings.
 - You can delete Roo Code to stop all data collection.
 
 ### **Security & Updates**

packages/telemetry/src/TelemetryService.ts

@@ -36,14 +36,14 @@ export class TelemetryService {
 
 	/**
 	 * Updates the telemetry state based on user preferences and VSCode settings
-	 * @param didUserOptIn Whether the user has explicitly opted into telemetry
+	 * @param isOptedIn Whether the user is opted into telemetry
 	 */
-	public updateTelemetryState(didUserOptIn: boolean): void {
+	public updateTelemetryState(isOptedIn: boolean): void {
 		if (!this.isReady) {
 			return
 		}
 
-		this.clients.forEach((client) => client.updateTelemetryState(didUserOptIn))
+		this.clients.forEach((client) => client.updateTelemetryState(isOptedIn))
 	}
 
 	/**

packages/types/src/telemetry.ts

@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ export interface TelemetryClient {
 
 	setProvider(provider: TelemetryPropertiesProvider): void
 	capture(options: TelemetryEvent): Promise<void>
-	updateTelemetryState(didUserOptIn: boolean): void
+	updateTelemetryState(isOptedIn: boolean): void
 	isTelemetryEnabled(): boolean
 	shutdown(): Promise<void>
 }

src/core/webview/webviewMessageHandler.ts

@@ -490,10 +490,10 @@ export const webviewMessageHandler = async (
 					),
 				)
 
-			// If user already opted in to telemetry, enable telemetry service
+			// Enable telemetry by default (when unset) or when explicitly enabled
 			provider.getStateToPostToWebview().then((state) => {
 				const { telemetrySetting } = state
-				const isOptedIn = telemetrySetting === "enabled"
+				const isOptedIn = telemetrySetting !== "disabled"
 				TelemetryService.instance.updateTelemetryState(isOptedIn)
 			})
 
@@ -2289,7 +2289,7 @@ export const webviewMessageHandler = async (
 		case "telemetrySetting": {
 			const telemetrySetting = message.text as TelemetrySetting
 			await updateGlobalState("telemetrySetting", telemetrySetting)
-			const isOptedIn = telemetrySetting === "enabled"
+			const isOptedIn = telemetrySetting !== "disabled"
 			TelemetryService.instance.updateTelemetryState(isOptedIn)
 			await provider.postStateToWebview()
 			break

webview-ui/src/App.tsx

@@ -192,11 +192,11 @@ const App = () => {
 	useEvent("message", onMessage)
 
 	useEffect(() => {
-		if (shouldShowAnnouncement) {
+		if (shouldShowAnnouncement && tab === "chat") {
 			setShowAnnouncement(true)
 			vscode.postMessage({ type: "didShowAnnouncement" })
 		}
-	}, [shouldShowAnnouncement])
+	}, [shouldShowAnnouncement, tab])
 
 	useEffect(() => {
 		if (didHydrateState) {

webview-ui/src/components/chat/ChatView.tsx

@@ -1777,6 +1777,7 @@ const ChatViewComponent: React.ForwardRefRenderFunction<ChatViewRef, ChatViewPro
 		<div
 			data-testid="chat-view"
 			className={isHidden ? "hidden" : "fixed top-0 left-0 right-0 bottom-0 flex flex-col overflow-hidden"}>
+			{telemetrySetting === "unset" && <TelemetryBanner />}
 			{(showAnnouncement || showAnnouncementModal) && (
 				<Announcement
 					hideAnnouncement={() => {
@@ -1840,7 +1841,6 @@ const ChatViewComponent: React.ForwardRefRenderFunction<ChatViewRef, ChatViewPro
 						/>
 
 						<RooHero />
-						{telemetrySetting === "unset" && <TelemetryBanner />}
 
 						<div className="mb-2.5">
 							{cloudIsAuthenticated || taskHistory.length < 4 ? (

webview-ui/src/components/common/TelemetryBanner.tsx

@@ -1,85 +1,53 @@
 import { memo, useState } from "react"
-import { VSCodeButton, VSCodeLink } from "@vscode/webview-ui-toolkit/react"
-import styled from "styled-components"
 import { Trans } from "react-i18next"
+import { VSCodeLink } from "@vscode/webview-ui-toolkit/react"
 
 import type { TelemetrySetting } from "@roo-code/types"
 
 import { vscode } from "@src/utils/vscode"
 import { useAppTranslation } from "@src/i18n/TranslationContext"
 
-const BannerContainer = styled.div`
-	background-color: var(--vscode-banner-background);
-	padding: 12px 20px;
-	display: flex;
-	flex-direction: column;
-	gap: 10px;
-	flex-shrink: 0;
-	margin-bottom: 6px;
-`
-
-const ButtonContainer = styled.div`
-	display: flex;
-	gap: 8px;
-	width: 100%;
-	& > vscode-button {
-		flex: 1;
-	}
-`
-
 const TelemetryBanner = () => {
 	const { t } = useAppTranslation()
-	const [hasChosen, setHasChosen] = useState(false)
+	const [isDismissed, setIsDismissed] = useState(false)
 
-	const handleAllow = () => {
-		setHasChosen(true)
+	const handleClose = () => {
+		setIsDismissed(true)
 		vscode.postMessage({ type: "telemetrySetting", text: "enabled" satisfies TelemetrySetting })
 	}
 
-	const handleDeny = () => {
-		setHasChosen(true)
-		vscode.postMessage({ type: "telemetrySetting", text: "disabled" satisfies TelemetrySetting })
-	}
-
 	const handleOpenSettings = () => {
 		window.postMessage({
 			type: "action",
 			action: "settingsButtonClicked",
-			values: { section: "about" }, // Link directly to about settings with telemetry controls
+			values: { section: "about" },
 		})
 	}
 
+	if (isDismissed) {
+		return null
+	}
+
 	return (
-		<BannerContainer>
+		<div className="relative px-4 py-2.5 pr-10 bg-vscode-banner-background border-b border-vscode-panel-border text-sm leading-normal text-vscode-foreground">
+			{/* Close button (X) */}
+			<button
+				onClick={handleClose}
+				className="absolute top-1.5 right-2 bg-transparent border-none text-vscode-foreground cursor-pointer text-2xl p-1 opacity-70 hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity duration-200 leading-none"
+				aria-label="Close">
+				×
+			</button>
+
+			<div className="mb-0.5 font-bold">{t("welcome:telemetry.helpImprove")}</div>
 			<div>
-				<strong>{t("welcome:telemetry.title")}</strong>
-				<div className="mt-1">
-					<Trans
-						i18nKey="welcome:telemetry.anonymousTelemetry"
-						components={{
-							privacyLink: <VSCodeLink href="https://roocode.com/privacy" />,
-						}}
-					/>
-					<div className="mt-1">
-						<Trans
-							i18nKey="welcome:telemetry.changeSettings"
-							components={{
-								settingsLink: <VSCodeLink href="#" onClick={handleOpenSettings} />,
-							}}
-						/>
-						.
-					</div>
-				</div>
+				<Trans
+					i18nKey="welcome:telemetry.helpImproveMessage"
+					components={{
+						settingsLink: <VSCodeLink href="#" onClick={handleOpenSettings} />,
+					}}
+				/>
 			</div>
-			<ButtonContainer>
-				<VSCodeButton appearance="primary" onClick={handleAllow} disabled={hasChosen}>
-					{t("welcome:telemetry.allow")}
-				</VSCodeButton>
-				<VSCodeButton appearance="secondary" onClick={handleDeny} disabled={hasChosen}>
-					{t("welcome:telemetry.deny")}
-				</VSCodeButton>
-			</ButtonContainer>
-		</BannerContainer>
+		</div>
 	)
 }
 

webview-ui/src/components/settings/About.tsx

@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export const About = ({ telemetrySetting, setTelemetrySetting, className, ...pro
 			<Section>
 				<div>
 					<VSCodeCheckbox
-						checked={telemetrySetting === "enabled"}
+						checked={telemetrySetting !== "disabled"}
 						onChange={(e: any) => {
 							const checked = e.target.checked === true
 							setTelemetrySetting(checked ? "enabled" : "disabled")