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Consumer Rights Groups Take Issue With NTIA Code of Conduct For Mobile Apps

Posted by timothy on from the click-here-if-you-didn't-read-the-above dept.

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.""

7 of 31 comments (clear)

  1. Everyone is patting themselves on the back by hsmith · · Score: 4, Informative

    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

    1. Re:Everyone is patting themselves on the back by icebike · · Score: 2

      Just put a notice on the box the phone came it, and print it on the back of the phone itself that says

      Anything you do on this device will be reported to the NSA

      and be done with it.

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
  2. Android by surmak · · Score: 3, Informative

    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.

    1. Re:Android by hankwang · · Score: 2

      The problem with Android permissions is that a lot of apps request internet and sdcard access and there is no way to know what kind of data is going to be exchanged. Benign usage would be downloading ads and dynamic content, for the apps that are just a wrapper for a website. But for all I know, an app could be scanning the sd card for interesting data and feeding it to big brother.

      --
      Avantslash: low-bandwidth mobile slashdot.
    2. Re:Android by Runaway1956 · · Score: 2

      I'm one of those "consumers" who expects that "free" mean "free". I don't expect to be offered a free service, when in reality that "free" service is exploiting me in some way. I expect the offer to be very upfront, and informative. "In exchange for this nearly worthless service, the Company will use this app to mine all the data on your device. Please select "accept" to proceed with installation."

      --
      "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
  3. NTIA ? by rossdee · · Score: 3, Funny

    No, Thanks In Advance ?

  4. You know what would be nice? by MikeRT · · Score: 2

    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... ;)