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Apple removes ‘Fakespot’ app from iOS App Store following Amazon request

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Re: Apple removes ‘Fakespot’ app from iOS App Store following Amazon request

#71

Post by inlikealamb »

JadeNB wrote: post #2

I'd just like to highlight this: > According to Amazon, the company already has the necessary tools to identify and stop fake reviews, suggesting that third-party services that claim to do this “are mostly wrong.” I am certainly willing to believe that Amazon has all the necessary tools, but it's very clear that they don't care to use them.

Product listing hijacks have been a known problem for years... and you can still do it today. A lot of the time I get something it comes with a business card offering a discount for a positive review... aliexpress reviews seem more reliable at this point.

Re: Apple removes ‘Fakespot’ app from iOS App Store following Amazon request

#73

Post by fbelzile »

Why is everyone here just blaming Amazon? Of course they're going to ask Apple to do this. It's in their own self-interest.

The more interesting questions is, why is Apple complying? Are they afraid that Amazon will retaliate by pulling their apps out of the App Store? If so, are they really just going to keep prioritizing big tech connections in favor of it's own customers?

The rule cited is so vague that even a basic paid browser app would break it. All the app does is augment data available from any web browser with other data.

> 5.2.2 Third-Party Sites/Services: If your app uses, accesses, monetizes access to, or displays content from a third-party service, ensure that you are specifically permitted to do so under the service’s terms of use. Authorization must be provided upon request.

Re: Apple removes ‘Fakespot’ app from iOS App Store following Amazon request

#74

Post by ffffwe3rq352y3 »

r00fus wrote: post #60

In response I’ve cancelled my Amazon prime. Fakespot was doing the job Amazon has failed to do for years and was the only thing keeping me there. Thanks Amazon for finally making this breakup a done deal.

Man that's extreme. I wish I had the guts to do that. Good on you!

Re: Apple removes ‘Fakespot’ app from iOS App Store following Amazon request

#75

Post by chii »

simondotau wrote: post #67
deregulateMed wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stop calling it a "walled garden". It's a "walled prison".

It’s not a prison because you’re welcome to leave whenever you want.

you can leave the phone ecosystem the same way you can leave society at will.

Re: Apple removes ‘Fakespot’ app from iOS App Store following Amazon request

#76

Post by pankajdoharey »

fbelzile wrote: post #73

Why is everyone here just blaming Amazon? Of course they're going to ask Apple to do this. It's in their own self-interest. The more interesting questions is, why is Apple complying? Are they afraid that Amazon will retaliate by pulling their apps out of the App Store? If so, are they really just going to keep prioritizing big tech connections in favor of it's own customers? The rule cited is so vague that even a bas…

Bad Apple! Rotten From Inside.

Re: Apple removes ‘Fakespot’ app from iOS App Store following Amazon request

#77

Post by ipaddr »

behnamoh wrote: post #45
anon9001 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Surely Amazon feels safer now.

I wonder what's in it for Amazon. FS users would end up buying on Amazon anyway. It's just that they would choose another seller or alternative products. Why would Amazon want that gone?

They may not find a better seller and move to another store.

Re: Apple removes ‘Fakespot’ app from iOS App Store following Amazon request

#78

Post by cartoonworld »

simondotau wrote: post #67
deregulateMed wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stop calling it a "walled garden". It's a "walled prison".

It’s not a prison because you’re welcome to leave whenever you want.

   Mirrors on the ceiling / The pink champagne on ice
   And she said "We are all just prisoners here, of our own device"
   And in the master's chambers / They gathered for the feast
   They stab it with their steely knives But they just can't kill the beast

   Last thing I remember / I was running for the door
   I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
   "Relax," said the night man / "We are programmed to receive
   You can check-out any time you like / But you can never leave!"
https://music.amazon.com/albums/B00DAKW7Q2?trackAsin=B00DAKW...

Re: Apple removes ‘Fakespot’ app from iOS App Store following Amazon request

#80

Post by ev1 »

Fakespot is one of the more atrocious extensions when it comes to data collection. It sends everything you look at, everything you add to cart, while you are logged out of everything it will also persistently track your viewed items with a unique identifier. I understand that the below may be in PP/ToS but come on, a normal user will not.

It does a lot of things completely opaque to the normal end user that are well above a "please tell me if item X's reviews are good or bad" - it practically sends Fakespot almost every single page interaction or click that you do on an Amazon property.

It does the same on every other site it supports - whether or not you want your item inspected, it will notify Fakespot about what products you viewed, what browser, what you clicked on, Add to Cart or Buy Now clicks, Sort clicks, every product visible on page (by ID and seller).

They also use the same unique session identifier across sites, so items you look at on eBay/Walmart/etc can be tied to the same person as items viewed on Amazon. If you choose to try to opt out of automatic item detection, that choice is also sent back to their servers (where it then returns a 4xx and tells you to sign up or sign in to fakespot with an account to save settings).

The extension itself is many megabytes of heavily packed and obfuscated JS. If you have it installed, I would recommend not doing so.

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