[Bug 1701068] Re: motd.ubuntu.com currently shows media item (HBO's Silicon Valley using Ubuntu)

[Guy Baconniere]

motd-news is part base-files so it cannot be removed from Ubuntu Desktop, Server or Core.
if you need to report a bug use https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/base-files/+filebug

On my point of view, motd-news is a Telemetry tool hidden in a Message of the Day (MOTD)
serving Ads for Canonical products (kubernetes, snap, lxd, etc.). On top of that it represents
a risk of security and privacy because curl is launched as root and your IP and private
information such as CPU model, CPU usage (idle time), uptime, Kernel version are transmitted
without consent (and regardless of any kind of approval) to Canonical. 

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/base-files/+bug/1867424

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1701068

Title:
  motd.ubuntu.com currently shows media item (HBO's Silicon Valley using
  Ubuntu)

Status in base-files package in Ubuntu:
  Opinion

Bug description:
  In Ubuntu 17.04 or newer, there is a script at /etc/update-motd.d/50
  -motd-news that reads https://motd.ubuntu.com/ and displays that text
  with the rest of the MOTD.

  Currently, https://motd.ubuntu.com shows a news item about HBO's Silicon Valley which has a reference to Ubuntu. 
  Instead, https://motd.ubuntu.com should show relevant items to those that 
  use Ubuntu Server (relevant security issues, etc), instead of items for desktop users.

  =============================
  Welcome to Ubuntu 17.04 (GNU/Linux 4.10.0-21-generic x86_64)

   * Documentation:  https://help.ubuntu.com
   * Management:     https://landscape.canonical.com
   * Support:        https://ubuntu.com/advantage

   * How HBO's Silicon Valley built "Not Hotdog" with mobile TensorFlow,
     Keras & React Native on Ubuntu
     - https://ubu.one/HBOubu
  ==============================

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.04
  Package: base-files 9.6ubuntu13
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.10.0-24.28-generic 4.10.15
  Uname: Linux 4.10.0-24-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.20.4-0ubuntu4
  Architecture: amd64
  Date: Wed Jun 28 12:31:24 2017
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-05-02 (56 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Release amd64 (20170412)
  ProcEnviron:
   TERM=xterm-256color
   PATH=(custom, no user)
   XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
   LANG=en_US.UTF-8
   SHELL=/bin/bash
  SourcePackage: base-files
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

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