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Google under fire for sending users' information to developers

27 points by likarish 14y ago

codeka 14y ago
I'm not sure why this is only coming up now, it's been this way since day one. I do think this is the best way (making the developer the merchant) but perhaps it should be better communicated.
- doe88 14y ago
  I compare that to the http referer sent by browsers, it's useful for developers, highly unknown from non-developers and it's not really good from a privacy standpoint. I don't really know where the line between helping developers and protecting privacy must be drawn but in doubt I've the weakness to always err on the side of privacy.
- taligent 14y ago
  No way. There have been lots of posts elsewhere about users being abused by developers after leaving a bad rating or having their details sold. I'll take Apple's implementation any day of the week.
darec1 14y ago
I heard the microsoft mobile store works the same way? Like ebay? And what about Amazon, is their app store in any ways like their "seller central"?
Pkeod 14y ago
https://plus.google.com/106557483623231970995/posts/Bed6WUJpNi4 https://plus.google.com/106557483623231970995/posts/Bed6WUJp... "With apple's app store you buy the apps from apple. With google play you buy the apps from the developer. If you are the merchant of record you need to know the address to correctly compute sales tax. This is documented on http://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=138000 http://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/bin/a... Google cannot give tax advice, so we have to give you the data to make the determination yourself"
Xion 14y ago
This sheds somewhat different light on the reasons why paid apps aren't that popular in Play market. It's not only about users being (allegedly) reluctant to pay for their apps but also about developers wanting to spare themselves the headache of dealing with customers' data directly.
- fpgeek 14y ago
  There are similar complexities in the iOS world. It's just the particular details that are different. See, for example, http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/LanguagesUtilities/Conceptual/iTunesConnect_Guide/5_SigningContractsandBanking/SigningContractsandBanking.html http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/Langua...
arindone 14y ago
What gets me is that most of the comments here are <i>defending</i> Google for sending your information to developers; however if any other independent site/app took your information and sent it to a third party without your permission there would be uproars and articles in tech blogs, etc... A bit of a double standard if you ask me...
pyman 14y ago
This is shameful. But what's worst is Barry Schwartz defending Google and saying that his employer does the right thing by giving away personal information and turning a user into a customer. Barry, the technologist, speaking like a salesperson. So, is he suggesting that if I go to my local supermarket and I buy milk, Visa should give them my my personal details? Or if I go to the cinema, or a restaurant? Nonsense! What are these companies going to do with my personal details? Is the supermarket going to call me during the weekend to offer me more milk? Or is McDonalds going to call me while I make love to my beautiful wife to tell me about their latest promo? Nonsense Barry, nonsense! What Google is doing in wrong and what you are saying is dumb.

27 points by likarish 14y ago

I'm not sure why this is only coming up now, it's been this way since day one. I do think this is the best way (making the developer the merchant) but perhaps it should be better communicated.

doe88 14y ago
I compare that to the http referer sent by browsers, it's useful for developers, highly unknown from non-developers and it's not really good from a privacy standpoint. I don't really know where the line between helping developers and protecting privacy must be drawn but in doubt I've the weakness to always err on the side of privacy.
taligent 14y ago
No way. There have been lots of posts elsewhere about users being abused by developers after leaving a bad rating or having their details sold. I'll take Apple's implementation any day of the week.

darec1 14y ago

I heard the microsoft mobile store works the same way? Like ebay? And what about Amazon, is their app store in any ways like their "seller central"?

Pkeod 14y ago

https://plus.google.com/106557483623231970995/posts/Bed6WUJpNi4 https://plus.google.com/106557483623231970995/posts/Bed6WUJp... "With apple's app store you buy the apps from apple. With google play you buy the apps from the developer. If you are the merchant of record you need to know the address to correctly compute sales tax. This is documented on http://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=138000 http://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/bin/a... Google cannot give tax advice, so we have to give you the data to make the determination yourself"

Xion 14y ago

This sheds somewhat different light on the reasons why paid apps aren't that popular in Play market. It's not only about users being (allegedly) reluctant to pay for their apps but also about developers wanting to spare themselves the headache of dealing with customers' data directly.

fpgeek 14y ago
There are similar complexities in the iOS world. It's just the particular details that are different. See, for example, http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/LanguagesUtilities/Conceptual/iTunesConnect_Guide/5_SigningContractsandBanking/SigningContractsandBanking.html http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/Langua...

arindone 14y ago

What gets me is that most of the comments here are <i>defending</i> Google for sending your information to developers; however if any other independent site/app took your information and sent it to a third party without your permission there would be uproars and articles in tech blogs, etc... A bit of a double standard if you ask me...

pyman 14y ago

This is shameful. But what's worst is Barry Schwartz defending Google and saying that his employer does the right thing by giving away personal information and turning a user into a customer. Barry, the technologist, speaking like a salesperson. So, is he suggesting that if I go to my local supermarket and I buy milk, Visa should give them my my personal details? Or if I go to the cinema, or a restaurant? Nonsense! What are these companies going to do with my personal details? Is the supermarket going to call me during the weekend to offer me more milk? Or is McDonalds going to call me while I make love to my beautiful wife to tell me about their latest promo? Nonsense Barry, nonsense! What Google is doing in wrong and what you are saying is dumb.