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You seem to have made up your mind on the intent of the creator, and the intent of its users. A constructive response however would have noted how you think app

You seem to have made up your mind on the intent of the creator, and the intent of its users. A constructive response however would have noted how you think apps with non-malicious intent, targeting people who genuinely want this type of functionality, can distinguish themselves. When I read your response I imagine a description of a hammer, which has "powerful striking force", and "a reinforced tapered claw", and "extra long handle for extra reach and leverage." Clearly this is nudge nudge, wink wink, targeting people who want to use it to hit other people. As someone who has installed productivity apps that were too easy to remove and specifically appreciates one of the features you derisively called out, I think you owe the creator an apology.

notatoad 12y ago
non-malicious apps can distinguish themselves by following the google play guidelines on security and privacy - if you are monitoring the user, you have to have a persistent notification. you can't secretly monitor somebody's behaviour and then claim your app isn't a spying tool.
Houshalter 12y ago
We can't possibly know what the intentions of the creator are, but it is definitely against the rules and for good reason: Smartphones Are Used To Stalk, Control Domestic Abuse Victims: http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/09/15/346149979/smartphones-are-used-to-stalk-control-domestic-abuse-victims http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/09/15/346149... >85 percent of the shelters we surveyed say they're working directly with victims whose abusers tracked them using GPS. Seventy-five percent say they're working with victims whose abusers eavesdropped on their conversation remotely — using hidden mobile apps. And nearly half the shelters we surveyed have a policy against using Facebook on premises, because they are concerned a stalker can pinpoint location.
- duskwuff 12y ago
  And with this sort of "use case" in mind, the vague name "Ever Accountable", innocuous-looking icon, and evasive description all work to the advantage of abusive users, by making it unclear to device owners exactly what this program is and what it's doing.
wutbrodo 12y ago
> A constructive response however would have noted how you think apps with non-malicious intent, targeting people who genuinely want this type of functionality, can distinguish themselves. I would've thought this was obvious. As stated in the comment that you're responding to, a persistent notification in the status bar.
wodenokoto 12y ago
As I understand it the purpose of the app is that given you know your wife is watching your internet history, you won't go on youporn. So how does this monitoring help you clean up your internet activities if you don't know you are being monitored? While the app should let the guardian know when it is being disabled, it also needs to let you disable it and more importantly let you know that it is running. Once those 2 things are removed it is no longer a productivity app, but a spy app.

notatoad 12y ago

non-malicious apps can distinguish themselves by following the google play guidelines on security and privacy - if you are monitoring the user, you have to have a persistent notification. you can't secretly monitor somebody's behaviour and then claim your app isn't a spying tool.

Houshalter 12y ago

We can't possibly know what the intentions of the creator are, but it is definitely against the rules and for good reason: Smartphones Are Used To Stalk, Control Domestic Abuse Victims: http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/09/15/346149979/smartphones-are-used-to-stalk-control-domestic-abuse-victims http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/09/15/346149... >85 percent of the shelters we surveyed say they're working directly with victims whose abusers tracked them using GPS. Seventy-five percent say they're working with victims whose abusers eavesdropped on their conversation remotely — using hidden mobile apps. And nearly half the shelters we surveyed have a policy against using Facebook on premises, because they are concerned a stalker can pinpoint location.

duskwuff 12y ago
And with this sort of "use case" in mind, the vague name "Ever Accountable", innocuous-looking icon, and evasive description all work to the advantage of abusive users, by making it unclear to device owners exactly what this program is and what it's doing.

wutbrodo 12y ago

> A constructive response however would have noted how you think apps with non-malicious intent, targeting people who genuinely want this type of functionality, can distinguish themselves. I would've thought this was obvious. As stated in the comment that you're responding to, a persistent notification in the status bar.

wodenokoto 12y ago

As I understand it the purpose of the app is that given you know your wife is watching your internet history, you won't go on youporn. So how does this monitoring help you clean up your internet activities if you don't know you are being monitored? While the app should let the guardian know when it is being disabled, it also needs to let you disable it and more importantly let you know that it is running. Once those 2 things are removed it is no longer a productivity app, but a spy app.