Apps like Temu or TokTok. Or those cheap electronic devices where you have to download a questionable app and register an account. What exactly is being stolen and what is being done with it? Who is doing it? Why?

  • lemmy689@lemmy.sdf.org
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    10 months ago

    This app crossed the line

    In a report released last month, privacy commissioners said people who downloaded the Tim Hortons app had their movements tracked and recorded every few minutes — even when the app was not open on their phones.

    • Nighed@sffa.community
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      10 months ago

      Would they not have had to give access to location services for this to happen though? Google is very good at giving me a “only while using this app” option for this kind of stuff now.

      • darganon@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        They surely agreed to it, the mixup is that people in general don’t realize how much data and how often Tim Horton’s wants to collect it.

        Tim Horton’s should probably just know which Tim Horton’s you’re closest to when you go to place an order, and that’s about it. There’s no reason they should even be allowed to ask to track you all day every day, even if you agree.

        That’s sort of the gist of it.

        • otp@sh.itjust.works
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          10 months ago

          I installed the McDonalds app years ago and it asked for location permissions. I turned them off. But it didn’t want to let me place a pickup order or something unless I was within a certain range of the restaurant. So sure, I’ll turn it on. This was a version of Android before “Only this time” options existed.

          Of course, I forgot to turn it back off. A few days later, I got a notification from the app that I was near a McDonalds – how about ordering some fries?

          I uninstalled the app and never looked back. Actually, since then, I’ve been kind of avoiding McDonalds. They price their stuff knowing that people will get discounts through the app…but no way am I getting that again.

        • Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.org
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          10 months ago

          A surprising number of restaurants ask for the “all the time” permission and hide it with “so we know when you’re almost here”.

    • otp@sh.itjust.works
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      10 months ago

      Don’t worry, they gave everyone a stale donut and an apology email as part of their class action lawsuit punishment.