Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says • Hacker News Board

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#11

Post by hammock » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 3:44 PM UTC

Arizhel wrote: post #8

What I think would be interesting is: what if a company like this made an app like this, but then clearly stated to users that it'd be collecting data on them and sending it to marketers? They could even pitch it as helping to keep prices "low". How much would this hurt sales? Would it even hurt sales at all? Given the proliferation of "smart TVs" and various IoT devices, I'm extremely skeptical that a company would…

> Would it even hurt sales at all?

Of course it would. What is the consumer benefit derived from the collection of this data?

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#12

Post by 40acres » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 3:44 PM UTC

I haven't downloaded the app, does that mean that I was not "spied" on? Is there any indication that Bose could collect data w/o use of the app?

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#13

Post by Etheryte » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 3:45 PM UTC

perseusprime11 wrote: post #10

Suing companies for improving your products is not a great idea.

How would providing third parties with the information on what I'm listening to improve the headphones?

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#14

Post by _jal » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 3:45 PM UTC

perseusprime11 wrote: post #10

Suing companies for improving your products is not a great idea.

...Whereas underhandedly surveilling people who are naive enough to buy a product from you and then profiting from the fruits of one's panty-sniffing is a brilliant one?

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#15

Post by jdmichal » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 3:46 PM UTC

pinewurst wrote: post #6

Karunamon wrote: post #5

So what are the chances this never goes anywhere thanks to a clickwrap EULA that's shoved into your face in 3pt font the moment the app starts? "Well, your honor, he agreed.."

EULA for other Bose app (Connect EULA seems not to be available online): https://hearphones.bose.com/eula "YOUR USE OF THE SOFTWARE ALSO OPERATES AS YOUR CONSENT TO THE COLLECTION, TRANSMISSION AND STORAGE OF CERTAIN STANDARD NETWORKING INFORMATION, DEVICE USAGE DATA, AND BOSE PRODUCT INFORMATION VIA THE INTERNET TO SERVERS OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY BOSE OR OPERATED BY THIRD PARTIES ON BEHALF OF BOSE"

IANAL, but that language does not seem to permit selling of the data to third parties.

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#16

Post by Etheryte » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 3:46 PM UTC

40acres wrote: post #12

I haven't downloaded the app, does that mean that I was not "spied" on? Is there any indication that Bose could collect data w/o use of the app?

Since the headphones only have bluetooth available, it's hard to imagine it transporting the information anywhere without the application, even if the headset still aggregates information.

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#17

Post by ahakki » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 3:46 PM UTC

hammock wrote: post #11

Arizhel wrote: post #8

What I think would be interesting is: what if a company like this made an app like this, but then clearly stated to users that it'd be collecting data on them and sending it to marketers? They could even pitch it as helping to keep prices "low". How much would this hurt sales? Would it even hurt sales at all? Given the proliferation of "smart TVs" and various IoT devices, I'm extremely skeptical that a company would…

> Would it even hurt sales at all? Of course it would. What is the consumer benefit derived from the collection of this data?

In the given example the benefit is stated as lower prices.

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#18

Post by squarefoot » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 3:48 PM UTC

Arizhel wrote: post #8

What I think would be interesting is: what if a company like this made an app like this, but then clearly stated to users that it'd be collecting data on them and sending it to marketers? They could even pitch it as helping to keep prices "low". How much would this hurt sales? Would it even hurt sales at all? Given the proliferation of "smart TVs" and various IoT devices, I'm extremely skeptical that a company would…

The problem is that they could do some damage to the user even in perfect good faith. Just think about someone who listens music at unusually high levels or with channels heavily unbalanced compared to someone with normal hearing abilities. That innocuous information if leaked could hurt the user insurance or job opportunities.

I have no idea if their app collects this information too, but it's just a matter of time before someone becomes interested to it as it happens with any kind of data that can be used to profile people.

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#19

Post by kenjackson » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 3:49 PM UTC

Arizhel wrote: post #8

What I think would be interesting is: what if a company like this made an app like this, but then clearly stated to users that it'd be collecting data on them and sending it to marketers? They could even pitch it as helping to keep prices "low". How much would this hurt sales? Would it even hurt sales at all? Given the proliferation of "smart TVs" and various IoT devices, I'm extremely skeptical that a company would…

Depends on the price reduction. Those earbud noise cancellation speakers go for like $200. If you could cut the price in half, I'd get them. They'd pretty much know which movies I watch and what flight I'm on, but so do a lot of other people that give me no benefit.

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#20

Post by Etheryte » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 3:49 PM UTC

ahakki wrote: post #17

hammock wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Would it even hurt sales at all? Of course it would. What is the consumer benefit derived from the collection of this data?

In the given example the benefit is stated as lower prices.

This example would only work if you had the same product in two different price ranges, e.g 350$ without tracking and 300$ with tracking or something similar.