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When an app asks for permissions, it should have a “feed fake data” option

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Re: When an app asks for permissions, it should have a “feed fake data” option

#51

Post by edrxty »

shadowgovt wrote: post #5

This wouldn't stem the requests; it would just lead to data analysts figuring out how to algorithmically filter the junk data. ... which is fine. Incentives to refine data analysis are always welcome.

That's good because either way it costs them money.

Also fake data being more chaotic would be good because it would ultimately cause them to over filter and throw out real chaotic data, effectively over fitting their marketing efforts to slightly more average people.

Additionally, a good arms race would be fun here. Keep making the data more and more realistic each generation. Add an option to use plugin datasets so wallstreetbets can crowdsource fucking with investment banks (ie why is everyone suddenly spending all their time at targets?)

Re: When an app asks for permissions, it should have a “feed fake data” option

#52

Post by firefoxd »

That's funny, I was just asking for that a few days ago on a similar thread [1]

> There needs to be a feature on android to give fake gps data on a real device. This would be useful for any app that requires gps for no good reason.

> If your flashlight app needs gps to turn on, no problem. You are currently on mount Kilimanjaro.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36486587

Re: When an app asks for permissions, it should have a “feed fake data” option

#53

Post by landgenoot »

I think this is a technical solution for a social problem.

Compare it with the "unsubscribe" button in spam newsletters that does nothing. Sure, fuck you, I will just block the unique email address you are using and you won't be able to contact me at all.

If everyone was playing nicely, we would not need it.

Re: When an app asks for permissions, it should have a “feed fake data” option

#54

Post by grishka »

ryandrake wrote: post #27

I’m all for the “fake data” idea, but also: Apps should be required to gracefully handle the cases where users deny permission to access real data. I know last time I developed for iOS, it was Apple’s policy that apps cannot punish users or exit() the app in retaliation for them denying a permission. Apps must gracefully handle it and continue running. Also, and this was even longer ago, apps could not require users…

> Apps should be required to gracefully handle the cases where users deny permission to access real data

Or else? You're suggesting an organizational solution to a technical problem. This can't possibly work. Fake data is the only practical solution to this, such that the app would see the permission as granted when it is not actually granted.

Re: When an app asks for permissions, it should have a “feed fake data” option

#55

Post by charcircuit »

AmericanChopper wrote: post #35
charcircuit wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>region-locked apps There is no such thing. The respective app stores allow you to distribute apps in select regions. This is an important feature for app stores because an app may not be a good experience in all countries. The app may not be localized to all languages, there may not be content moderators for those languages, those countries have a multitude of laws that you need to comply with, your app may include…

The way Apple have implemented region localisation on the App Store is very bad. You basically have to nuke your whole account to change regions, and that includes losing all your subscriptions (if you have any annual subscriptions that’s just too bad for you). So if you spend time between two counties, and need a region locked app in each one, there’s actually no workable solution. Your explanation for the anti-scre…

>I don’t know of any streaming app that doesn’t also have a website that I can take screenshots (as well as full screen captures) on

Your browser does not have DRM support which typically means you are not sent the full quality videos. And not all media apps have a website. Not every app that I am talking about are from massive companies that can support making apps and a website.

Re: When an app asks for permissions, it should have a “feed fake data” option

#56

Post by rhn_mk1 »

evandale wrote: post #38
davidjfelix wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That feeling when hacker news user endorses eugenics as long as its just stupid people.

What makes you think GP is talking about eugenics? If anything, they're talking about natural selection which is not eugenics. Eugenics is when you select fitness at birth. GP would be endorsing genocide, or maybe epigenetics if anything, based on the small out of context comment. I highly doubt either was the intention and wonder how you got to the eugenics conclusion.

It's not natural selection if you help it.

Re: When an app asks for permissions, it should have a “feed fake data” option

#57

Post by hattmall »

0ld wrote: post #28
chongli wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do a lot of people use Google Maps on iOS? I ask because the “feed fake data” option is something I could imagine Apple doing but never in a million years would I believe Google would do it. Apple Maps wouldn’t have this issue. It’s capable of running offline (without a data connection) because it can download maps to the device.

a lot of people do, for example me. apple maps sucks badly where i live (eu). say, it has no idea my house (built 6 years ago) exists, it builds routes via non-existing roads, is not aware of road works, detours or most of the businesses around apple maps is completely useless here, even though i don’t like using a google app, there’s no alternative

Apple maps sucks badly here in the US as well. Just last month it took me down a road that had been closed and diverted many years ago, we almost missed a wedding.

Re: When an app asks for permissions, it should have a “feed fake data” option

#58

Post by grishka »

halfstep wrote: post #9

I really wish browsers would take this approach with notifications. If a website asks if I have notifications enabled, tell them yes, and send them all into the oblivion. Edit: to clarify, I already disable all notifications in Firefox. I was referring to websites that check via JavaScript whether you have notifications turned on and trigger a pop up to ask you to enable them.

You can disable notifications globally. I did it. Zero regrets. My browser is a hypertext document viewer, not an operating system.

Here's also a userscript that removes the service worker API from Chromium browsers:

    // ==UserScript==
    // @name         Remove service worker API
    // @namespace    http://tampermonkey.net/
    // @version      0.1
    // @description  try to take over the world!
    // @author       You
    // @match        https://*/*
    // @grant        none
    // @run-at       document-start
    // ==/UserScript==
    
    delete Object.getPrototypeOf(navigator).serviceWorker;
In Firefox, iirc you can disable that API somewhere in about:config.

Re: When an app asks for permissions, it should have a “feed fake data” option

#59

Post by rollcat »

ryandrake wrote: post #27

I’m all for the “fake data” idea, but also: Apps should be required to gracefully handle the cases where users deny permission to access real data. I know last time I developed for iOS, it was Apple’s policy that apps cannot punish users or exit() the app in retaliation for them denying a permission. Apps must gracefully handle it and continue running. Also, and this was even longer ago, apps could not require users…

> it was Apple’s policy that apps cannot punish users or exit() the app in retaliation for them denying a permission.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp still "punishes" users for denying contacts access by hiding everyone's names (only the phone numbers are shown), including for contacts that have their own names set in their own profiles.

Facebook^W Meta is scum.

Re: When an app asks for permissions, it should have a “feed fake data” option

#60

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

sspiff wrote: post #25
progbits wrote: post #3

XPrivacy for rooted android could do this 7+ years ago and there are other modern alternatives (but I haven't rooted my phone for a long time so I can't vouch for them): https://github.com/M66B/XPrivacy Obviously that is not mainstream, I agree it should come built in. But then both Android and iOS allow bullshit like region-locked apps or preventing screenshots from DRM content, so good luck with that.

This would never land in a factory image or upstream Android, but it has a reasonable chance to become part of projects like LineageOS, given enough user demand for it.

LineageOS already had this feature in Cyanogen as the Privacy Guard. It was taken out because of pressure from Google.
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