But isn't the user international? Seems within provider's rights?
If you're targeting European users, you need to comply with the GDPR.
My Phone Was Spying on Me, So I Tracked Down the Surveillants
11–20 of 176 posts
Re: My Phone Was Spying on Me, So I Tracked Down the Surveillants
#12One downside to the security model in popular mobile OSes is that once someone does gain superuser access there's really nothing the user can do short of rebuilding the device since they often don't have it themselves.
Re: My Phone Was Spying on Me, So I Tracked Down the Surveillants
#13> “I agree,” I pressed. We had now made a binding agreement, the app and I.
I hate this whole premise. We have to agree to an incomprehensible text wall of vague legal nonsense, that very often violate our own laws (as in this case), in order to install an app.
These illegal contracts are completely void of any meaning, and it should not matter that you "agreed" to be screwed over like that. Being screwed over like this is illegal, so those who do this, should not stay safe just because you clicked "I agree".
Re: My Phone Was Spying on Me, So I Tracked Down the Surveillants
#14One downside to the security model in popular mobile OSes is that once someone does gain superuser access there's really nothing the user can do short of rebuilding the device since they often don't have it themselves.
Let’s not beat around the bush here: this is a uniquely Android problem. Sure, there are some iOS jailbreaks out in the wild, but these are very few and far between. There was one for then-recent iOS versions earlier this year, but it came many years after the previous jailbreak of that kind. Superuser access to my iOS device isn’t something I need to worry about. But if I ran Android? It would be a real threat.
Re: My Phone Was Spying on Me, So I Tracked Down the Surveillants
#15The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) states that they they have limited access to commercially available data, and that they are used in line with relevant rules and regulations Well sure, relevant being the operative word here. For the US CBP the only relevance is US law, since the USA has no concept of data subject ownership -- in the US, all data is owned by whoever holds it, not who it is about.
Not sure why you're being downvoted. This seems like an accurate description of what's the status quo (and what is the problem with it, IMO)
Re: My Phone Was Spying on Me, So I Tracked Down the Surveillants
#16One downside to the security model in popular mobile OSes is that once someone does gain superuser access there's really nothing the user can do short of rebuilding the device since they often don't have it themselves.
I think without said "security" model, we wouldn't have so much malware.
Because getting your exact location extracted and send to marketing firms and government contractors is worse than quite a few trojans you could get on your local computer by executing random and even malicious code.
It is time that security experts get honest about this and that "experts" lower their voice a bit.
Re: My Phone Was Spying on Me, So I Tracked Down the Surveillants
#17> “I agree,” I pressed. We had now made a binding agreement, the app and I. I hate this whole premise. We have to agree to an incomprehensible text wall of vague legal nonsense, that very often violate our own laws (as in this case), in order to install an app. These illegal contracts are completely void of any meaning, and it should not matter that you "agreed" to be screwed over like that. Being screwed over like t…
> Being screwed over like this is illegal
More precisely, these agreements generally aren't legally binding in Europe, but generally are legally binding in the US.
Re: My Phone Was Spying on Me, So I Tracked Down the Surveillants
#18One downside to the security model in popular mobile OSes is that once someone does gain superuser access there's really nothing the user can do short of rebuilding the device since they often don't have it themselves.
Let’s not beat around the bush here: this is a uniquely Android problem. Sure, there are some iOS jailbreaks out in the wild, but these are very few and far between. There was one for then-recent iOS versions earlier this year, but it came many years after the previous jailbreak of that kind. Superuser access to my iOS device isn’t something I need to worry about. But if I ran Android? It would be a real threat.
He consented to the collection and Apple would have exactly the same issues.
Also Android is marginally more useful than an iOS device. I know that it is fancy as a music player and social media apps, but it isn't really what it could be.
Re: My Phone Was Spying on Me, So I Tracked Down the Surveillants
#19> “I agree,” I pressed. We had now made a binding agreement, the app and I. I hate this whole premise. We have to agree to an incomprehensible text wall of vague legal nonsense, that very often violate our own laws (as in this case), in order to install an app. These illegal contracts are completely void of any meaning, and it should not matter that you "agreed" to be screwed over like that. Being screwed over like t…
> Being screwed over like this is illegal More precisely, these agreements generally aren't legally binding in Europe, but generally are legally binding in the US.
True; although who knows what would hold up in court if anyone was to file a lawsuit based on some of these "digital contracts" we agree to every time we click "I agree".
Re: My Phone Was Spying on Me, So I Tracked Down the Surveillants
#20This is essential work, using the GDPR as a tool for data privacy journalism. Unfortunately, GDPR is only the beginning and lots of work like this needs to be done to uncover the breadth of the damage that is being done daily. Also, as the article states this shows that stronger laws need to be in place all over the globe.
(Journalist behind article.) Thank you! I can say that it is not easy to use subject access requests to get information. Without the help of Michael Veale’s template and a lot of grit, I don’t think I would have made it.
Transparency is just a first step, but it is a powerful tool.