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If an app's function requires location, how is it Apple's fault that the user decides it's better to enable that app to spy on him? If I use Waze do I expect p

by anhner 6y ago

If an app's function requires location, how is it Apple's fault that the user decides it's better to enable that app to spy on him? If I use Waze do I expect privacy from it when it's essential that it knows my location? Furthermore, on iPhone you get a warning when an app abuses the location permission, unlike Android. At least on iPhones you have per app control, on Android it's either "location on" or "location off"

lern_too_spel 6y ago
> At least on iPhones you have per app control, on Android it's either "location on" or "location off" Where did you get that notion? Location permission has been per-app since before Android launched. Even better, you can get your location without telling Google, unlike on iOS, which always tells Apple. > Furthermore, on iPhone you get a warning when an app abuses the location permission, unlike Android. If you're talking about https://www.cpomagazine.com/data-privacy/apples-new-ios-13-will-include-warning-about-apps-collecting-location-data/ https://www.cpomagazine.com/data-privacy/apples-new-ios-13-w..., this warning just covers a bug in iOS. Android already requires the app to request location permission to use any API that will allow the location to be inferred (e.g., Bluetooth and WiFi scanning). Therefore, no such warning is required on Android. The app already had to explicitly request location permission.
sneak 6y ago
> If an app's function requires location, how is it Apple's fault that the user decides it's better to enable that app to spy on him Apple makes the iOS SDK and writes all the app store policies. They could deny apps that embed third party location data mining/spying that is nonessential to the app’s functionality, just as they do that now for checkouts/payments of subscription services that don’t use App Store IAPs. Apple has taken an aggressive stance regarding the curation (alternately, censorship) of the App Store. Everything that is or isn’t in it is “Apple’s fault”. They let App Store apps spy and harvest data for shady data and location miner companies.
cookiengineer 6y ago
This argument is very much the same as saying “just don’t install spyware” and literally proves the point that neither store is trustworthy. On Android you too have this featureset, though the settings app is very limited and also has the same problem as OP mentioned. Just look at whatsapp, constantly trying to launch all other facebook apps in the background (verify this with a freezing app). On Android (or AOSP, Omni, Lineage and the like) you at least have fdroid as an alternative.

by anhner 6y ago

lern_too_spel 6y ago

> At least on iPhones you have per app control, on Android it's either "location on" or "location off" Where did you get that notion? Location permission has been per-app since before Android launched. Even better, you can get your location without telling Google, unlike on iOS, which always tells Apple. > Furthermore, on iPhone you get a warning when an app abuses the location permission, unlike Android. If you're talking about https://www.cpomagazine.com/data-privacy/apples-new-ios-13-will-include-warning-about-apps-collecting-location-data/ https://www.cpomagazine.com/data-privacy/apples-new-ios-13-w..., this warning just covers a bug in iOS. Android already requires the app to request location permission to use any API that will allow the location to be inferred (e.g., Bluetooth and WiFi scanning). Therefore, no such warning is required on Android. The app already had to explicitly request location permission.

sneak 6y ago

> If an app's function requires location, how is it Apple's fault that the user decides it's better to enable that app to spy on him Apple makes the iOS SDK and writes all the app store policies. They could deny apps that embed third party location data mining/spying that is nonessential to the app’s functionality, just as they do that now for checkouts/payments of subscription services that don’t use App Store IAPs. Apple has taken an aggressive stance regarding the curation (alternately, censorship) of the App Store. Everything that is or isn’t in it is “Apple’s fault”. They let App Store apps spy and harvest data for shady data and location miner companies.

cookiengineer 6y ago

This argument is very much the same as saying “just don’t install spyware” and literally proves the point that neither store is trustworthy. On Android you too have this featureset, though the settings app is very limited and also has the same problem as OP mentioned. Just look at whatsapp, constantly trying to launch all other facebook apps in the background (verify this with a freezing app). On Android (or AOSP, Omni, Lineage and the like) you at least have fdroid as an alternative.