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Consumer Rights Groups Take Issue With NTIA Code of Conduct For Mobile Apps
MojoKid writes "On Friday, we learned that the mobile industry has developed a short-form notice for mobile apps that tells users if the app is collecting their data and in what areas (i.e., phone call and text logs, location data, and so on) that would appear before app download begins. The program is currently voluntary and being tested, and although on the surface it seems like a step forward for consumer protection, some industry consumer rights groups are opposed to it. Jeffrey Chester of the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) told us that, with respect to all the work that the industry put into the plan, he doesn't believe the new code of conduct will actually do much for consumers. "The process ignored the actual mobile app business practices, and refused to engage in the testing that's required," he said. "Words on a small screen--even if better than long and hard to find privacy policies--doesn't mean anything unless we know it tells users: one, what data is actually collected and how it is to be used, and two, whether they will see it in the first place.""
But in reality, a tiny sliver of individuals will ever read this. It would be more useful if it were in the App Stores or a screen on the device you could easily find to get the info. It will be another "EULA" which people just hit "Accept" for
Android already does this. The OS has a set of permissions available for apps (get location data, use camera, access internet, etc.) These permissions are displayed to the user when the app is installed, giving the user the chance to reject the app if the permissions are unacceptable.
No, Thanks In Advance ?
It is easy to point finger at what one sees as a problem. It is much harder to find solutions to those problems. Lets see a few consumer organizations come up with what they would want to see instead of just criticizing. They will find it much more difficult that they seem to believe.
If when a company like Facebook gets caught (as I believe they did recently) grabbing contact data without authorization they'd get the "CFAA-book" thrown at them by the federal government. Novel idea, right? Your mobile phone is your computer system in the palm of your hand. They greatly exceeded reasonable access. They're "hackers**" so eff them and eff them hard in the federal court for "hacking."
**Term Nazis: we all know Hacker != Cracker outside of an African-American Studies program on race in IT... ;)
Simpson continued: “A year after calling for privacy legislation, we have seen nothing from the administration. This multi-stakeholder process has been a diversion and a waste of time. President Obama, if you are serious about protecting consumers’ privacy, show us your proposed legislation.”
Instead of sitting on the sidelines sniping at people who are trying to make progress how bout you get off your ass and propose some legislation of your own? If you " are serious about protecting consumers’ privacy" how about you help make some progress instead of just being an obstruction. "You do the work and we'll shoot it down" is not very productive.
On iOS, when an app tries to access, say, your contacts - at that point you are given a pop up that asks you to allow or deny that action.
There are several apps that I've found useful, but which want to do things for which there's no good reason (like the aforementioned contacts access). It's also nice with apps like Twitter or LinkedIn, where I might want to use them occasionally but don't want them spamming me with unwanted notifications or "services".
#DeleteChrome
This is an unfixable issue. I used 'my' Facebook account to connect to the comment services of several EXTREMELY major publications. Every single one of these organisations wanted to slurp my entire private Facebook dataset. Obviously, with this account, I could say "sure, go ahead" but my point is that there is an absolute expectation by every player, big or small, that they can abuse the user in return for the service they offer the user for 'free'.
Google, through Android, makes this a thousand times worse. At least of the PC there is a clear demarcation between 'nosy' software/services, and the stuff that just installs and runs, even if inside a fully locked down sandbox. But even on a PC, when installing a new firewall, I'm amazed at how many older programs I assumed were 'passive' attempt to make internet connections (to long defunct servers).
If even one app has the ability to slurp your data, every other app will demand the same privilege. Thus, if you hold important information in your slurpable data area (be your device a phone, tablet or PC), your data will be slurped by everyone, and you may as well assume it to be public information.
If convenience matters more to you than privacy, your privacy has now gone 100%. If you are still prepared to put some of your privacy ahead of convenience, at the cost of some extra effort, you can keep all the privacy you wish.
Consumer Groups ARE NOT going to help here- in fact their moronically naive initiatives will actual make things get worse much faster, by ensuring the big players bribe the right politicians to cast in legal stone their right to slurp data in return for 'freebies'. Most mobile apps, per app, make less money than ever before, so their ability to slurp your data and sell it on/exploit it is essential to their business model. In effect, an invisible tax on all your purchases is created, and that 'tax' represents the money that is kicked-back to all those who may have been responsible for 'helping' you decide to make that given purchase.
'Advertising' in the 21st Century, is a very dirty and sophisticated game. The industry requires that you see targeted ads, and targeted ads require massive intelligence gathering operations. The ad business is now the *OTHER* NSA. And the ad biz has no more conscience than the NSA either.
Sadly the current situation has a tiny minority of people aware of the issues, and determined not to be casually data-mined, while the vast majority feels they have no other choice but to bend over, take it, and convince themselves they enjoy it. In fairness, those that give in genuinely feel they live in an age of 'wonder' as the social network services revolutionise their lives.
We're the phone company. We don't care what you little people want, need, or think is important. We don't have to. We never did, and we likely never will because you believe that you absolutely must be able to yack and/or text with your BFF, and update your TwitBook status. That all too common pathology will keep you bending over for just about any abuse we or our real customers care to put to you. So shut up and take it, bitches.