Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM • Hacker News Board

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#101

Post by nashequilibrium » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 5:19 PM UTC

This is both funny and a serious invasion of privacy. Path keeps on stepping into it because they are hell bent in using web 2.0 tactics to get customers. The smartphone is a very personal and intimate device completely different than a desktop or laptop and when you loose the trust of people who have invited you into their homes, you will not get a second chance. Path has been struggling for a while but for the last few months I have been noticing a lot of PR articles talking about their growth, especially outside of the US. My guess is that their VC probably said fuck it! We can ask for forgiveness later!

When a company is this small and shows no regard for privacy we better hope that it falls in the deadpool because if they get to scale, we are going to get to hear a lot more of these invasive tactics. I really hoped for path to put a dent into Facebook's growth but not anymore!

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#102

Post by eksith » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 5:19 PM UTC

Me1000 wrote: post #92

eksith wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Does Path actually say "We're going to invite all your friends via SMS", even in fine print? Should it? More importantly, will anyone download the app in the first place if it did? No one -- in their right minds -- would suddenly want to share (non-existent) photos with all their contacts. Seems like an odd way to say "We're going to invite all your friends via SMS". Your address book doesn't consist primarily of yo…

Without addressing the opt-in point, which I agree with... You're also assuming there is no "continue without doing this" button, which of course, I was assuming there would be... Many users just mash on the "next" button on app intro screens. Again, it's all just speculation until someone takes the time to start researching and documenting the facts instead of just yelling "KILL IT"! :/

I agree, we're just all shooting the breeze here until we get a proper word from Path, and/or a journalist does a proper investigation into what exactly did happen.

I'm not unsympathetic when someone says "oh, I didn't read that bit" (I'm guilty of that too), but surely they have usability experts who would have warned them about it. The original author is technically inclined to make an informed decision. That's a big deal to me. That tells me, they never gave the guy any settings options to begin with or hid it in an obscure panel.

What's worse, according to the author, texts were sent possibly after he uninstalled the app. Which means they still keep the data!

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#103

Post by msantos » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 5:20 PM UTC

I share this guy's frustration. But with Whatsapp not Path - I heard not so nice things about Path so didn't bother trying it. Anyway, after installing Whatsapp on my Android the app didn't spam my contacts, but quickly uploaded by entire contact list and hours later I started receiving spam from recruiters that had my phone number. So far, not the app's fault. But then I went on the delete the app, but first I wanted to delete any contact it had previously uploaded so it wouldn't keep my data. How naive was I?! Whatsapp wouldn't let me delete the contacts it had previously uploaded. Eventually I just gave up and deleted the app without clearing the app's data.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#104

Post by Samuel_Michon » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 5:20 PM UTC

c0ur7n3y wrote: post #72

skytalon wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just noticed, in that apology letter, the line: "... Your trust matters to us and we want you to feel completely in control of your information on Path. ..." So they want you to feel in control.

"We are deeply sorry if you were uncomfortable with how our application used your phone contacts." That non-apology is corporate communications at its most typical.

I’m a big sucker for a non-apology apology, reading one never fails to make my day.

More here: http://terribleapologies.com/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-apology_apology#Examples and http://jezebel.com/sorry-not-sorry-how-to-non-apologize-5993...

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#105

Post by JonnieCache » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 5:20 PM UTC

skytalon wrote: post #46

eksith wrote: post #11

Remember when a while back they downloaded far too much information from each phone (for the convenience of connecting you to people)? Everyone was surprised (some outraged) and then they pushed an update to stop that "feature" and when the CEO/Boss man posted a blog entry apologizing, everyone forgave the company, people were holding hands singing Kumbaya. Edit: Here's when they flubbed a year ago. http://news.cnet.…

I just noticed, in that apology letter, the line: "... Your trust matters to us and we want you to feel completely in control of your information on Path. ..." So they want you to feel in control.

This kind of thing sits alongside "it is important that justice is seen to be done" in my list of phrases that will preclude you from being taken at face value ever again.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#106

Post by Groxx » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 5:20 PM UTC

Looks like this might be related to the "find friends" button. There are a handful of reviews in the Play store that mention it messaging everyone.

This is why I hate install-time permissions. It means you have to trust an app until uninstall do you part, which generally happens well after abuses.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#107

Post by bitcartel » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 5:21 PM UTC

crazygringo wrote: post #34

How 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?

We need to nip this in the bud.

Maybe it's time to create a Hippocratic Oath for developers to publicly commit to?

A future Path developer could then refuse to implement an unethical "feature" by pointing out that the company had hired them with the full knowledge that the oath had been undertaken.

I don't think the company would pink slip the developer, as they would probably want to avoid any attention being drawn to the unethical "feature" in a tribunal or other legal setting.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#108

Post by bm1362 » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 5:21 PM UTC

silencio wrote: post #89

Me1000 wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This comment is a great example of how people are so quick to rush to judgement with emotional reactions. Let's look at the facts: 1. Path was fined, not for anything involving address books, but for allowing 12 year olds to sign up for the service. 2. Yes... it is proof that Path uploads your phone book. Of course, they ask you. The OS won't even give you access to the phone book without prompting the user. So somew…

Me1000, I love you, but... > The OS won't even give you access to the phone book without prompting the user. So somewhere along the way, the user knowingly gave Path access to their contacts. The introduction of address book privacy in iOS was in large part prompted by the publication of Path's behavior. Up until the Path and eventually iOS update after the controversy first arose, Path didn't explicitly ask the user…

OP is using an android phone.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#109

Post by Me1000 » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 5:22 PM UTC

silencio wrote: post #89

Me1000 wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This comment is a great example of how people are so quick to rush to judgement with emotional reactions. Let's look at the facts: 1. Path was fined, not for anything involving address books, but for allowing 12 year olds to sign up for the service. 2. Yes... it is proof that Path uploads your phone book. Of course, they ask you. The OS won't even give you access to the phone book without prompting the user. So somew…

Me1000, I love you, but... > The OS won't even give you access to the phone book without prompting the user. So somewhere along the way, the user knowingly gave Path access to their contacts. The introduction of address book privacy in iOS was in large part prompted by the publication of Path's behavior. Up until the Path and eventually iOS update after the controversy first arose, Path didn't explicitly ask the user…

I'm well aware of what prompted the change to iOS. We talked about that last year. I'm not defending anything, but that's not really at issue today, though.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#110

Post by edgesrazor » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 5:23 PM UTC

smickie wrote: post #27

This might be off topic but I loved reading that post, it turned into comedy gold. The time I was at the third... (I don’t have any photos to share with them) I was giggling. And the list of people path called at the end killed me.

As I read the post I wondered the whole time, "Does he have any photos to share?"