One of my clients wanted me to implement the same thing for his iOS app. I told him, that I think it is illegal and if it is not, that it should be. Anyway, I never wrote that code.
Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM
31–40 of 430 posts
Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM
#32Could this just have been a good old-fashioned programming bug, rather than spamming or malicious intent?
How could this possibly be a programming bug?
Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM
#33This certainly sounds like a bug in their Android app and not a malicious thing that they did. Path is headed up by some smart people. I have a hard time believing that they would willing blast out texts to everyone in an address book considering what they just paid the FTC. Then again, it's possible that it was a user error while trying to uninstall the app. There certainly is an option to invite people to path right there in the sidebar.
Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM
#34How about another detail -- the fact that the message said the user had photos to share, when he didn't?
There's annoying spam, and then there's straight-out-lying spam -- the "x has sent you a message, you need to create an account to view it" type.
Just curious, is there a way to sue/fine a company like this for false advertising, essentially?
Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM
#35FYI, you can deactivate your Path account by visiting their website ( https://path.com/ ), signing in and clicking 'Deactivate' on the 'Settings' page.
Deactivating your account just effectively hides your profile. You're only a couple clicks away from having it all restored if you so choose. They seem quite good at finding ways to screw up, surely they can still find a way to do this until they actually remove your data.
Contact them via their Desk service portal here http://service.path.com/customer/portal/emails/new and ask them to remove your data after deactivating.
Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM
#36Looks like the good old HN rush has tanked their server. Anyone got a mirror?
Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM
#37How about another detail -- the fact that the message said the user had photos to share, when he didn't? There's annoying spam, and then there's straight-out-lying spam -- the "x has sent you a message, you need to create an account to view it" type. Just curious, is there a way to sue/fine a company like this for false advertising, essentially?
Maybe that's why we've been seeing Path more in App Store top charts recently?
Another app doing similar spamming is Circle: http://discovercircle.com - surprised no one talked about that...
Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM
#38FYI, you can deactivate your Path account by visiting their website ( https://path.com/ ), signing in and clicking 'Deactivate' on the 'Settings' page.
Notice that is says "Deactivating your account will remove your content from Path. If you reactivate your account, your content will come back."
Not deleting your content, though. I hate that.
Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM
#39Strangely, this behavior will ultimately be reward with a huge influx in user base due to awareness.
Might even cover that 800k fine easily.
Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM
#40Path seems to do all the shady things with your data that we fear Google and Facebook could do. FB and G definitely push the boundaries of privacy/creepy sometimes, but Path seems to have no qualms about blowing right past them. I am staying away.
The impact is also smaller, FB has 1 billion or so accounts and Google probably has about the same. Plus, they can track every move you make across the web, things you like, searches you make, what type of content you email, share etc.
If Path grows, I hope they just die (two strikes is enough for me!) more and more people will look under the hood.