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Comments on news posted 2012-12-17 14:24:23: A new study by the Federal Trade Commission notes that the majority of mobile apps aimed at children secretly collect information from children including device IDs, phone numbers, locations, and other private data without their parents' knowledge or.. ..


JasonOD
@comcast.net

JasonOD

Anon

I'm guessing mommy and daddy....

are the ones paying the bill, so technically they own the phone, plan, contract, and whatever apps get onto the phone. Is this more of a parental responsibility issue?

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList

Premium Member

Re: I'm guessing mommy and daddy....

it is. Kids don't own the devices, the parents do.

If we don't want kids using these devices, then don't let them use it.

Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium Member
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL

Maxo to JasonOD

Premium Member

to JasonOD
said by JasonOD :

are the ones paying the bill, so technically they own the phone, plan, contract, and whatever apps get onto the phone. Is this more of a parental responsibility issue?

Not if the apps are not informing the parents of their intent. If I download "XYZ Fun Game" and it doesn't say it's going to start collecting all this information, how would I know to allow or not allow my kids to play it based on my privacy concerns?
One thing I did not see mentioned in this article is that the Google Play store does tell you what kind of access the app is requesting from your phone, such as location services, etc.

ropeguru
Premium Member
join:2001-01-25
Mechanicsville, VA

2 recommendations

ropeguru

Premium Member

OMG...

We need to ban phone apps NOW!!! Do it for the children![/sarcasm]
NOVA_UAV_Guy
Premium Member
join:2012-12-14
Purcellville, VA

NOVA_UAV_Guy

Premium Member

Re: OMG...

said by ropeguru:

We need to ban phone apps NOW!!! Do it for the children![/sarcasm]

The children! The children! Won't somebody puh-leaze think of the poor innocent children! LOL
Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL

2 recommendations

Mr Matt

Member

Lawmakers say show me the money.

Any as long as corporatist are the puppet masters, don't expect any action from our corrupt lawmakers. Violating FTC rules collecting data is easily solved by a few contributions to the politicians war chests by the lobbyists and the problem will go away. Welcome to the United Fascist States of America.

StevenB
Premium Member
join:2000-10-27
New York, NY

StevenB

Premium Member

Re: Lawmakers say show me the money.

great post. one of the worst things is losing faith within a company or knowing how companies are doing things.

mrherzog
join:2001-05-06
Calgary, AB

mrherzog

Member

READ the permissions request

The greater issue is that people just say yes to the permission requests (least with BlackBerry Apps anyway)
A good example is Google Maps. The app continuously wants to approve personal data permission when loading.
People will simply say yes because they don't really understand what information is being collected.
Another one is Cineplex theatres. Their app annoyingly wants to access my phones contact lists and other personal info including folders. WHY??

My nature is to ask what the app wants to access and why, and thankfully, BlackBerry is pretty good at blocking these activities without your interaction but what about iOS and Android?

I can see how this has become a major issue, and suspect it will only get worse.
me1212
join:2008-11-20
Lees Summit, MO

me1212

Member

Re: READ the permissions request

If people don't read the user agreement/permissions request its their own fault I say.
averagedude
join:2002-01-30
San Diego, CA

averagedude

Member

Re: READ the permissions request

said by me1212:

If people don't read the user agreement/permissions request its their own fault I say.

Agreed, but I call it natural selection.
NOVA_UAV_Guy
Premium Member
join:2012-12-14
Purcellville, VA

1 recommendation

NOVA_UAV_Guy to mrherzog

Premium Member

to mrherzog
It would be nice to have the Android operating system (and others) allow users to block permissions to apps at a granular level. My suggestion would be as follows:

Step 1: App author writes app and publishes to Marketplace, with a list of specific permissions needed by the app to run properly (as is done today).

Step 2: User downloads app and is presented with a list of permissions that app author requests (as is done today).

Step 3: User can then accept all requested permissions by default, reject all permissions with the click of a button, or enter an interface to fine-tune permissions that s/he wishes to give to the app. In the event that users 'fine tune' the permissions, they acknowledge that certain features of the app might not run properly or even be available.

This seems like a solution that makes everybody happy (well, most people- there will be some developers out there who aren't happy with this process).

Corehhi
join:2002-01-28
Bluffton, SC

Corehhi

Member

Simple

Don't own a smart phone, I don't.
silbaco
Premium Member
join:2009-08-03
USA

silbaco

Premium Member

Apps

Actually this is an issue. Apps capture a ridiculous amount of information and often times for no valid reason. They don't do a very good job telling users what it is they capture and they do a horrible job securing the information they collect.

cork1958
Cork
Premium Member
join:2000-02-26

cork1958

Premium Member

Re: Apps

said by silbaco:

Actually this is an issue. Apps capture a ridiculous amount of information and often times for no valid reason. They don't do a very good job telling users what it is they capture and they do a horrible job securing the information they collect.

Actually,
This is a MAJOR issue, period! Enough said!!