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Zoom iOS app sends data to Facebook even if you don’t have a Facebook account

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Re: Zoom iOS app sends data to Facebook even if you don’t have a Facebook account

#101

Post by arielm »

somethoughts wrote: post #70
godelski wrote: post #2

> There is nothing in the privacy policy that addresses [that data is being sent to Facebook] > The Zoom app notifies Facebook when the user opens the app, details on the user's device such as the model, the time zone and city they are connecting from, which phone carrier they are using, and a unique advertiser identifier created by the user's device which companies can use to target a user with advertisements So Zoo…

Similar to how we have organizations which can certify whether produce is organic or not, we need organizations which can certify whether apps and websites are certified ad tracking free.

We (Appfigures) are scanning apps for SDKs so we know which trackers, analytics, location trackers apps are using.

We’re working on a way to make that data accessible to app developers so they can learn from competitors, but having a simple way to tell if an app tracks you that doesn’t require signing up or anything like that could be an interesting idea.

Would you actually check an app before downloading/using it?

Re: Zoom iOS app sends data to Facebook even if you don’t have a Facebook account

#102

Post by ncr100 »

clement_b wrote: post #11

Ahem. That's just Facebook Analytics. Yes, it should be mentioned in the privacy policy, especially if they operate in countries under the GDPR (they do). But having a go at Zoom on this ground is unfair, given many developers do the exact same thing.

Because Facebook could figure out WHO YOU ARE TALKING WITH. If you're talking with someone "sensitive", Facebook will know.

Perhaps FB needs to use heuristics to join Caller A with Caller B based upon timestamps, etc.

But ZOOM is a messaging app and the IMPLICATION is that FB will know some EXTRA DETAIL about my private life: the other people in it.

It's not like this is CANDY CRUSH - duh that's just some game. This is ZOOM, a face-to-face communications app. Much more serious.

Apple should flag this for its users on the App Store.

Re: Zoom iOS app sends data to Facebook even if you don’t have a Facebook account

#103

Post by [deleted] »

mpclark wrote: post #62
st3fan wrote: post #26

EVERY. SINGLE. APP. THAT. INCLUDES. THE. FACEBOOK. SDK. Even if you don't log in. The Facebook SDK sends data back. Hook your device up to an intercepting proxy and start up a few apps. 99% of them do this. I really wish Apple would put an end to this.

I’m surprised Zoom is happy for Facebook to know exactly who its customers are. This is information that could be used against the company at some point, for example if FB made a video conferencing play.

[deleted]

Re: Zoom iOS app sends data to Facebook even if you don’t have a Facebook account

#104

Post by ncr100 »

product50 wrote: post #51

The world is facing such a massive crisis, people are getting laid off, and here on HN/Vice, they are discussing why a VC app is sending an anonymized link to Facebook.

Correct. And, People who like Power are seeing an Opportunity to get more power.

ANY TIME you can predict what people will do, e.g. be shut-ins, that is an opportunity to be exploited for better or worse.

IF YOU CAN MAKE PEOPLE DO things, en masse, then you're IN POWER. Congratulations.

Zoom giving data to Facebook during a crisis means Facebook can track your critical social network members.

I do expect the crisis will pass, and I don't want to have LOST any more of my privacy as a by-product.

Re: Zoom iOS app sends data to Facebook even if you don’t have a Facebook account

#105

Post by jedberg »

somethoughts wrote: post #70
godelski wrote: post #2

> There is nothing in the privacy policy that addresses [that data is being sent to Facebook] > The Zoom app notifies Facebook when the user opens the app, details on the user's device such as the model, the time zone and city they are connecting from, which phone carrier they are using, and a unique advertiser identifier created by the user's device which companies can use to target a user with advertisements So Zoo…

Similar to how we have organizations which can certify whether produce is organic or not, we need organizations which can certify whether apps and websites are certified ad tracking free.

Ironically, those orgs have themselves been accused of being pay-to-play -- if you give them enough money they will certify you organic. Since it's industry run, there is no one checking that the organic certifiers are legit.

It's turtles all the way down.

The only legit solution is the government, because they are the only ones without a profit motive in the whole system (although they can be bribed, but that's a whole other can of worms).

Re: Zoom iOS app sends data to Facebook even if you don’t have a Facebook account

#106

Post by [deleted] »

godelski wrote: post #2

> There is nothing in the privacy policy that addresses [that data is being sent to Facebook] > The Zoom app notifies Facebook when the user opens the app, details on the user's device such as the model, the time zone and city they are connecting from, which phone carrier they are using, and a unique advertiser identifier created by the user's device which companies can use to target a user with advertisements So Zoo…

[deleted]

Re: Zoom iOS app sends data to Facebook even if you don’t have a Facebook account

#107

Post by Nextgrid »

arielm wrote: post #101
somethoughts wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Similar to how we have organizations which can certify whether produce is organic or not, we need organizations which can certify whether apps and websites are certified ad tracking free.

We (Appfigures) are scanning apps for SDKs so we know which trackers, analytics, location trackers apps are using. We’re working on a way to make that data accessible to app developers so they can learn from competitors, but having a simple way to tell if an app tracks you that doesn’t require signing up or anything like that could be an interesting idea. Would you actually check an app before downloading/using it?

I am very shy of downloading apps because I expect most of them to stalk me or rat me out to Facebook and don't have the time to check for myself (by using Charles Proxy or Burp Suite).

I would definitely appreciate it if there was a service that allows me to quickly check if an app is safe.

Re: Zoom iOS app sends data to Facebook even if you don’t have a Facebook account

#108

Post by floatboth »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #36

Are they using a Facebook dependency? FB has a couple of libraries popular for use as UI libraries. I didn't think they phoned home, but I could be wrong.

They're using the Facebook SDK. The one for, well, interacting with Facebook's actual social network.

Re: Zoom iOS app sends data to Facebook even if you don’t have a Facebook account

#109

Post by danabramov »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #36

Are they using a Facebook dependency? FB has a couple of libraries popular for use as UI libraries. I didn't think they phoned home, but I could be wrong.

If you mean React, it doesn't have any telemetry, and never had. (You can audit the code on GitHub, it's open source.)

The SDK in question is Facebook SDK which is completely separate from user interface libraries.

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