TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India
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Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India
#2I believe, Truecaller is an auto opt-in and you have to manually opt out if you want your number not be listed. I had to "unlist" my number manually. Check if your number is already in and then unlist at https://www.truecaller.com/unlisting
Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India
#3I have had many experiences where I tried to order tea at a small tea-stalls (digitally empowered) on the streets of India, and first thing they ask is my phone number! I reject anyone asking my phone number unless dire and a must-one. I also noticed that almost everyone will blurt out their number when anyone ask them.
Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India
#4When you install the app they steal your contact list and populate their database that way. Most people are unaware of this, or don't care since we are a third world country and privacy is seen as a first world problem. The vast majority of thinking here is not very sophisticated about these types of topics. Only a very tiny fraction of the total population is averse to sharing personal information like phone numbers. It's common to see folks post their tax ID numbers etc on public forums, tweets, etc. too.
For a number of years it was quite common for folks in the lowest income brackets to change their phone numbers quite often because of rampant competition between mobile network providers. The "Mobile Number Portability" system was eventually introduced that minimized this to a large degree. Eventually the competition subsided and this reduced significantly to a point where it's not very common anymore per my understanding.
When I need to use Trucaller I use it via their web interface exclusively with a google account that has 0 contacts for them to steal. I remember finding my number listed many years ago as my name with (web developer) in parenthesis, likely stolen from some old customer of mine.
Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India
#5I believe, Truecaller is an auto opt-in and you have to manually opt out if you want your number not be listed. I had to "unlist" my number manually. Check if your number is already in and then unlist at https://www.truecaller.com/unlisting
>Check if your number is already in
How do you check whether your number is "in"?
Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India
#6I believe, Truecaller is an auto opt-in and you have to manually opt out if you want your number not be listed. I had to "unlist" my number manually. Check if your number is already in and then unlist at https://www.truecaller.com/unlisting
Thank you for posting that link. The last time I checked, they were asking to install their app and then unlist yourself from there.
Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India
#7I believe, Truecaller is an auto opt-in and you have to manually opt out if you want your number not be listed. I had to "unlist" my number manually. Check if your number is already in and then unlist at https://www.truecaller.com/unlisting
>Check if your number is already in How do you check whether your number is "in"?
Enter your phone number on this page: https://www.truecaller.com/
Once you do, you have to log in with either your Google or Microsoft identity and agree to let them download your contacts.
Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India
#8I have had many experiences where I tried to order tea at a small tea-stalls (digitally empowered) on the streets of India, and first thing they ask is my phone number! I reject anyone asking my phone number unless dire and a must-one. I also noticed that almost everyone will blurt out their number when anyone ask them.
Some businesses do exactly the same thing in the US. It is fascinating to be a bystander and hear how willing most people are to just give over their phone number. And of course, not just the store could be recording it, anybody within earshot could.
Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India
#9I believe, Truecaller is an auto opt-in and you have to manually opt out if you want your number not be listed. I had to "unlist" my number manually. Check if your number is already in and then unlist at https://www.truecaller.com/unlisting
Thank you for posting that link. The last time I checked, they were asking to install their app and then unlist yourself from there.
Well now they want you to sign in with google/microsoft. Never gonna do that.
I should create a few dozen fake accounts for these kind of companies.
Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India
#10When you install the app they steal your contact list and populate their database that way. Most people are unaware of this, or don't care since we are a third world country and privacy is seen as a first world problem. The vast majority of thinking here is not very sophisticated about these types of topics. Only a very tiny fraction of the total population is averse to sharing personal information like phone numbers…
My wife installed TrueCaller on her phone. She is technical but not a developer.
I asked if she knows they steal your contact list and spy on you and her answer was “so? It’s just phone numbers and names and they need to get the data somewhere as they are providing the service for free”
I live in a developed country and we have a high standard of living.
Giving this anecdote to illustrate many people genuinely don’t see TrueCaller’s spying as a big deal. This is unfortunate but it’s how things often are.