Facebook and Snapchat iOS Apps Still Tracking Users Despite Opt-Out • Hacker News Board

Re: Facebook and Snapchat iOS Apps Still Tracking Users Despite Opt-Out

#51

Post by AlexandrB » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 7:16 PM UTC

DrBenCarson wrote: post #32

sneak wrote: post #7

Of course they are. If you don't want to be tracked by Facebook, stop running their code on your device . Apple provides you with the app privacy labels in the App Store. Read them and use them.

If I don’t want Facebook code to run on my device, I literally can’t use anything outside of stock OS offline. The Facebook and Google ads SDKs are in absolutely everything…it’s how everyone makes money online.

The "if you don't like it, don't user their product" crowd seems to be unaware of tracking pixels, shadows profiles, "like" widgets, reCaptcha, etc. Basically the last 20 years of adware "innovation". I'd love to be able to tell Facebook to DIAF and never run their code again, but for some reason they're not keen on respecting my wishes.

Re: Facebook and Snapchat iOS Apps Still Tracking Users Despite Opt-Out

#52

Post by chaircher » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 7:16 PM UTC

rchaud wrote: post #40

Switching to the mobile web version of Instagram on a UBO-enabled browser has been a gift of sorts. Because the website can't run in the background like an app, it can't preload anything. Launching takes a few moments to show posts, and videos don't autoplay. Any time the mobile website shows you a prompt to use the app for "an improved experience", they really just mean "for better tracking and personalized ads".

How long have you been doing this and has it caused you to get locked out your account at all? I used to use instagram on desktop only but the account kept getting suspended, which stopped happening once I reverted back to using the mobile app. Anecdotally heard this was happening with other people too. Would be useful if mobile web was a work around?

Re: Facebook and Snapchat iOS Apps Still Tracking Users Despite Opt-Out

#53

Post by nijave » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 7:16 PM UTC

jsnell wrote: post #34

The title seems inaccurate, and the outrage seems based on the title rather than the actual content. The article text explicitly says that the data is "anonymized and aggregated". How is that tracking?

It seems in modern language any time data is uploaded from a device it's "tracking"

Re: Facebook and Snapchat iOS Apps Still Tracking Users Despite Opt-Out

#54

Post by dfxm12 » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 7:17 PM UTC

arrozconcosas wrote: post #33

literallyaduck wrote: post #23

Severe fines starting with 25% of gross and making them pay for mandatory audits, coupled with jail for executives would mitigate this.

Jail for executives haha. Has this ever happened for anything?

Enron. I guess the SEC takes things more seriously than, well, I'm not totally sure what government agency is responsible for protecting their constituency's private data...

Re: Facebook and Snapchat iOS Apps Still Tracking Users Despite Opt-Out

#55

Post by swiley » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 7:21 PM UTC

Do not run closed consumer software ever.

Re: Facebook and Snapchat iOS Apps Still Tracking Users Despite Opt-Out

#56

Post by busymom0 » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 7:23 PM UTC

rchaud wrote: post #40

Switching to the mobile web version of Instagram on a UBO-enabled browser has been a gift of sorts. Because the website can't run in the background like an app, it can't preload anything. Launching takes a few moments to show posts, and videos don't autoplay. Any time the mobile website shows you a prompt to use the app for "an improved experience", they really just mean "for better tracking and personalized ads".

Sorry, what’s UBO?

Re: Facebook and Snapchat iOS Apps Still Tracking Users Despite Opt-Out

#57

Post by rumblerock » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 7:25 PM UTC

corobo wrote: post #5

I've found switching to the web version of social apps to be better anyway. Stops me visiting them as frequently if nothing else. I'm actively deciding to visit now rather than mindlessly opening the apps in order Feelin kinda smug right now

I've done a mild version of this with some success, putting the apps in a separate homescreen, or deleting them from the homescreen altogether so I'm forced to go into the app drawer. Unfortunately my mind still finds itself swiping down the iOS search bar to hunt for them. It really is a compulsive addiction of sorts.

Re: Facebook and Snapchat iOS Apps Still Tracking Users Despite Opt-Out

#58

Post by jjulius » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 7:25 PM UTC

twobitshifter wrote: post #49

throwuxiytayq wrote: post #14

How are the apps still not removed?

The article says that Apple is allowing this behavior from developers - so I think the unhappiness should be addressed at Apple. Users clicked do not track but apps can still log your ip, and fingerprint you by your groups. > an unacknowledged shift that lets companies follow a much looser interpretation of its controversial privacy policy." Apple has instructed developers that they "may not derive data from a device…

>... so I think the unhappiness should be addressed at Apple.

I think the unhappiness should be directed at Apple and the offending apps. There's no reason why it can't be both.

Re: Facebook and Snapchat iOS Apps Still Tracking Users Despite Opt-Out

#59

Post by rPlayer6554 » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 7:26 PM UTC

busymom0 wrote: post #56

rchaud wrote: post #40

Switching to the mobile web version of Instagram on a UBO-enabled browser has been a gift of sorts. Because the website can't run in the background like an app, it can't preload anything. Launching takes a few moments to show posts, and videos don't autoplay. Any time the mobile website shows you a prompt to use the app for "an improved experience", they really just mean "for better tracking and personalized ads".

Sorry, what’s UBO?

Ublock origin. It's an adblocker. It's best used on Firefox because iirc Chrome has been nerfing the APIs adblockers need to function.

Re: Facebook and Snapchat iOS Apps Still Tracking Users Despite Opt-Out

#60

Post by stevehawk » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 7:27 PM UTC

busymom0 wrote: post #56

rchaud wrote: post #40

Switching to the mobile web version of Instagram on a UBO-enabled browser has been a gift of sorts. Because the website can't run in the background like an app, it can't preload anything. Launching takes a few moments to show posts, and videos don't autoplay. Any time the mobile website shows you a prompt to use the app for "an improved experience", they really just mean "for better tracking and personalized ads".

Sorry, what’s UBO?

uBlock Origin