We don’t think twice before downloading and installing apps on our mobile phones. We go through screens of text pertaining to Terms of Use and Privacy statements without even reading a sentence. It is common practice to Just “Accept” at the bottom, to just be able to use the free app.
Well this is no different that someone doing anything for drugs. They will sell their brother’s iPad, watch or whatever for cheap just to get some. Actually it’s different because they are giving away rights that are much more expensive, and in some instances, IRREVERSIBLE.
Lately I’ve been noticing that most apps are telling me they will use such things as the camera and the microphone on the device, “Without Permission”, the location of your phone, even the amount the phone is used and who you called and how long you called. When asked, the developers say, if they don’t get that permission, then every time you are going to use the camera it is going to need permissions (Between clicks), or not having the right location will not give you the right location on the map and your navigation will be a problem. Or when your phone is lost or Stolen you won’t know where it is, etc.
This is Bull Shit with a capital B&S. Why would a Health app, that tracks my steps or distance and food and maybe heart rate, if I have a monitor, need to use my camera and microphone and record without my knowledge or permission? This doesn’t make sense to me, and lately I’ve been a lot more careful with some applications that want to update and change these terms that I could have agreed to by default, as in apps that came pre-installed on the phone.
Is there a sinister plan? Is this information that will be used by the insurance companies to spy on the users? It is perfect to find out how much exercise you are or aren’t doing. What kind of foods are you eating. Where you are going (in the case of the location of your phone)
I like to have my location accessible by my phone because I always think, what if I was in an accident off of a mountain road or something, I would like my family or the search and rescue to be able to track my phone and find me, but not the retailer that wants to give me a coupon because I am passing by the store, or the health insurance company because I am going to too many parties or night clubs, etc, etc.
I think you get the picture. I would be careful before accepting these terms blindly and letting whoever it is have access to that data. BE CAREFUL! It might even be too late.