When people say that apps are stealing your data, what exactly does that mean?

JCreazy@midwest.social to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 243 points –

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?

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When most people talk about companies 'stealing' their data, it's just companies doing what they explicitly stated in the terms and conditions and these people agreed to.

The whole Google incognito mode drama right now is a great example of this. It literally always said 'incognito will not prevent employers, websites you visit, or your ISP from collecting data' when opening a incognito tab. So yeah, obviously Google also knows what you are looking up and they never implied otherwise at all.

Edit: A lot of down votes, but no one ever clarified how and when exactly it was that Google was misleading. And if there actually is anyone who was legit surprised by this whole thing, can you please explain to me what you thought incognito mode did exactly?... And if there isn't anyone who was surprised, as seems the case so far....that's sort of my point.

they explicitly stated in the terms and conditions and these people agreed to

Unwieldy TOS' have already been found to not be enough because no reasonable person reads all of it. It also doesn't answer OPs questions

The whole Google incognito mode drama right now is a great example of this. It literally always said 'incognito will not prevent employers, websites you visit, or your ISP from collecting data' when opening a incognito tab. So yeah, obviously Google also knows what you are looking up and they never implied otherwise at all.

That's not what the lawsuit is about, and even if that was the point, which one of "employers, websites you visit, or your ISP" is Google/the browser?

And yet I somehow knew Google was collecting my personal info because it was obvious. That's the entire point of the company lol.

When someone searches 'big donkey dicks' in the url bar .. where exactly did they think the browser was pulling those results from? Could it be a website... called Google?

It did exactly what it was described as doing it, which is basically no cookies and no user history (for the user or other users of their computer to see). The TV commercials about buying presents for loved ones never implied anything more.

And yet I somehow knew Google was collecting my personal info because it was obvious. That's the entire point of the company lol.

'People should have known this company would be misleading/lying' isn't a defence for what a company does

where exactly did they think the browser was pulling those results from? Could it be a website... called Google?

This is the important bit. Since Google handles both the browser and the search engine, that's where there's the potential for confusion (and what the court is deciding on). So basically: did the tracking only kick in when using a Google managed website, or was it happening on the browser level (for everyone regardless of what website they used).

Personally I agree that there are bigger issues to deal with

Suck that corporate teat harder.

-Sent from my iPhone

That serves your case less than you realise. Most people facing this invasion of privacy trust Apple even less.

I also trust Apple less...

You are a truly baffling individual. Good day

I was pointing out that the person calling me a corporate teat sucker was they themself one, as evidenced by their use of an iPhone.

I don't own an iPhone at all and never have, ya dingus.

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