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Scummier tactics are still used. The tracking and surveillance density of a typical iOS app – including screen recording – is shocking.

by chmars 7y ago

draugadrotten 7y ago
Can you please direct me to where I can learn more about which iOS apps that are screen recording and surveillance? Screen recording sounds suspicous and even illegal in some jurisdictions. For example, if an app records my screen while I get an incoming iMessage, I can easily argue that being a GDPR violation.
- unilynx 7y ago
  iOS won’t let apps do that. But apps can record their own screen.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
- oarsinsync 7y ago
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19101020 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19101020 Previous discussion on apps secretly recording the screen and sending data in the clear, including credit card details.
  - aaronharnly 7y ago
    But they weren’t recording the screen — they were eventing user interactions within their own app, including button presses and keypresses. That was described as “effectively screenshotting” by the article, which it is not. It might still be lousy behavior depending on the sensitivity of what users do in the app, but it’s not screen recording (which implies notifications and other apps might be recorded too).
  - draugadrotten 7y ago
    Thank you for the link, I had not seen it before. Reading the follow-up article, the glassbox library appears to be a clear violation of Apple rules - "In an email, an Apple spokesperson said: “Protecting user privacy is paramount in the Apple ecosystem. Our App Store Review Guidelines require that apps request explicit user consent and provide a clear visual indication when recording, logging, or otherwise making a record of user activity.” “We have notified the developers that are in violation of these strict privacy terms and guidelines, and will take immediate action if necessary,” the spokesperson added. https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/07/apple-glassbox-apps/ https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/07/apple-glassbox-apps/ In my opinion, unauthorized processing of email addresses or credit cards or other personal information is also a clear violation of the GDPR in the EU. Of course there might be shady companies who willingly tries to break the law, but that is business as usual for law enforcement.
- dwighttk 7y ago
  I agree. Citation needed for screen recording on iOS apps
  - chmars 7y ago
    https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/06/iphone-session-replay-screenshots/ https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/06/iphone-session-replay-scre... Same for websites. It makes sense for development, however, it remains turned on in most apps. And at least under iOS, there is no actual ad / tracking blocking available for, well, against apps.

Scummier tactics are still used. The tracking and surveillance density of a typical iOS app – including screen recording – is shocking.

by chmars 7y ago

Scummier tactics are still used. The tracking and surveillance density of a typical iOS app – including screen recording – is shocking.

draugadrotten 7y ago

Can you please direct me to where I can learn more about which iOS apps that are screen recording and surveillance? Screen recording sounds suspicous and even illegal in some jurisdictions. For example, if an app records my screen while I get an incoming iMessage, I can easily argue that being a GDPR violation.

unilynx 7y ago
iOS won’t let apps do that. But apps can record their own screen.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
oarsinsync 7y ago
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19101020 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19101020 Previous discussion on apps secretly recording the screen and sending data in the clear, including credit card details.
- aaronharnly 7y ago
  But they weren’t recording the screen — they were eventing user interactions within their own app, including button presses and keypresses. That was described as “effectively screenshotting” by the article, which it is not. It might still be lousy behavior depending on the sensitivity of what users do in the app, but it’s not screen recording (which implies notifications and other apps might be recorded too).
- draugadrotten 7y ago
  Thank you for the link, I had not seen it before. Reading the follow-up article, the glassbox library appears to be a clear violation of Apple rules - "In an email, an Apple spokesperson said: “Protecting user privacy is paramount in the Apple ecosystem. Our App Store Review Guidelines require that apps request explicit user consent and provide a clear visual indication when recording, logging, or otherwise making a record of user activity.” “We have notified the developers that are in violation of these strict privacy terms and guidelines, and will take immediate action if necessary,” the spokesperson added. https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/07/apple-glassbox-apps/ https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/07/apple-glassbox-apps/ In my opinion, unauthorized processing of email addresses or credit cards or other personal information is also a clear violation of the GDPR in the EU. Of course there might be shady companies who willingly tries to break the law, but that is business as usual for law enforcement.
dwighttk 7y ago
I agree. Citation needed for screen recording on iOS apps
- chmars 7y ago
  https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/06/iphone-session-replay-screenshots/ https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/06/iphone-session-replay-scre... Same for websites. It makes sense for development, however, it remains turned on in most apps. And at least under iOS, there is no actual ad / tracking blocking available for, well, against apps.