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The real problem with app permissions is that developers are allowed to even REQUEST permissions that are not necessary for the functioning of their app. This i
by tcm19 9y ago
The real problem with app permissions is that developers are allowed to even REQUEST permissions that are not necessary for the functioning of their app. This is not just an issue with apps on facebook. It's also an issue with Android apps (and, I presume, iOS apps).
The fact is that the majority of users can not be expected to look out for themselves. People hit install and then hit accept to whatever permissions request pops up. It is like agreeing to the TOS that no one reads.
I tried to download an alarm clock app on Android. It wanted access to virtually everything. Why do you need so much information for a fucking alarm clock? My analog alarm clock doesn't know my name but it still wakes me up each morning.
Platforms (Facebook, Mobile OS's, Desktop OS's) need to reject apps that request unnecessary permissions.
- shady-lady 9y agoExactly this. Part of the reason is pre-emptive cost cutting by these companies to remove human review from these apps. Google also played a massive part in this with their strategy for growing the Android app store. (as did Facebook) Favouring quantity over quality puts users at risk.
- wruza 9y agoiOS asks for a permission only when an application actually tries to use protected data. It is very clear to user and was like that since forever. You simply tap “deny” at runtime and never care that it will access something you don’t want. Android has similar behavior, but only for new-style apps (starting with 6.x, as someone corrected me in last year’s thread). Trillions of old-style apps still enjoy TOS-like god permissions, afaik.