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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

#151
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…

I have been using Android for the last few years (with NoRoot Firewall installed) and before that I was using iPhone (jailbroken with FirewallIP installed).

95% of the applications installed (on both Android & iPhone), when they open "talk"/send a ping to Facebook. That includes all air-companies, Spotify, anything you can imagine. The only "clean" apps I have found are Amazon, eBay, Dropbox, Signal, Telegram, Skype.

Anyone using Android, do yourselves the favor, install (free) NoRoot Firewall. Once you "Start" the firewall check the tabs "Logs" and "Pending" and you will be surprised on what your apps are doing, especially if you leave them running in the background.I also use it to block trackers, ads, FB, etc.

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

#152
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's past time for us to get serious and apply HIPAA-style protection to the storage and transmission of PII, without exemptions. Companies like Facebook will complain loudly that they won't be able to survive, but that is not our problem. If we pass legislation with teeth, they will need to change their business model. That would be the point.

I disagree with this — more regulation will make it harder to innovate. For example, I’ve met several founders who wanted to enable tele-medicine years ago but decided against it because “the lawyers cost more than the engineers”, and walking-on-eggshells destroys morale & iteration speed. I’m not arguing to de-regulate heath data — my point is that we should selectively apply regulation. It’s likely a great thing to…

Sounds like a false dichotomy. Some regulation has some downsides, all regulations are bad. I think you can reform regulations enabling health care innovations and introduce legistlation to stop Facebook to do mass surveillance without opt-in.

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

#154

So what options do we have for private video conferencing?

jitsi-meet, see:

https://meet.jit.si/ https://github.com/jitsi/jitsi-meet

You can self-host it, or use the first link. No need to give your email, name, or phone number.

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

#155

So what options do we have for private video conferencing?

Is whereby any good for privacy? I found this in the privacy policy. I like the app for usability

> We will never collect or record the content in conversations.

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

#156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do comments suggesting that data collection is paid for by Facebook/google get downvoted? Serious question. This wasn’t my comment but I think it’s true and I’ve said the same previously and was downvoted too. Is it because it’s obvious and well known? Did I miss the memo too? If Facebook is encouraging the capture and transmission of this data and paying for it, does this mean that Facebook has indemnified Zoom?

> Why do comments suggesting that data collection is paid for by Facebook/google get downvoted? It's not that I disagree with the facts here. Obviously they're doing so for some sort of monetary incentive. That doesn't make it any less evil. I don't care if it's legal. Companies that depend on the sale of user data to be profitable are acting unethically and (imo) unsustainable as those profits may not be available t…

Considering this is the default for the Facebook SDK, it’s not obvious to me at all that they’re doing it for a monetary incentive (not that that makes this acceptable).

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

#157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You think Zoom is doing it for fun? This is a revenue source right?

Why do comments suggesting that data collection is paid for by Facebook/google get downvoted? Serious question. This wasn’t my comment but I think it’s true and I’ve said the same previously and was downvoted too. Is it because it’s obvious and well known? Did I miss the memo too? If Facebook is encouraging the capture and transmission of this data and paying for it, does this mean that Facebook has indemnified Zoom?

Those comments are downvoted because there is no evidence that anyone is paying for data from Zoom. IMO, speculation without support should be downvoted.

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

#158
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's past time for us to get serious and apply HIPAA-style protection to the storage and transmission of PII, without exemptions. Companies like Facebook will complain loudly that they won't be able to survive, but that is not our problem. If we pass legislation with teeth, they will need to change their business model. That would be the point.

I disagree with this — more regulation will make it harder to innovate. For example, I’ve met several founders who wanted to enable tele-medicine years ago but decided against it because “the lawyers cost more than the engineers”, and walking-on-eggshells destroys morale & iteration speed. I’m not arguing to de-regulate heath data — my point is that we should selectively apply regulation. It’s likely a great thing to…

The regulations that you likely hit when investigating tele-medicine previously are likely more closely related to why nearly no site will let anyone create an account unless they check a box confirming that they're over 13 and COPPA[1] is a pretty intense set of rules that, IMO, are way waaay overkill.

That said, regulations might make it difficult for companies, but they're there because companies have abused data in the past at the expense of customers. So, I guess, it's too bad - regulations benefit me, they don't strangle businesses, they impede it - and it's an impediment that can be overcome if the business is useful enough to people.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Online_Privacy_Pr...

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

#160
post #148
post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you've missed your parents point. The problem they point out is that well intentioned businesspeople who want to provide you a useful service and store your data correctly are priced out. If you want to deal with medical data of any kind, you need a lawyer. Full stop. It doesn't matter how good your intentions are, or how many "best practice" blog posts you follow. You need to hire a lawyer, and lawyers are i…

Not every business has to be viable for a startup. I'd rather a company that can't afford a single lawyer not have access to my personal information. If that means pricing them out of it through regulation, then so be it.

Then don't use the startup? Not everyone has the same calculus as you. You don't need regulation in order for you to not use a product.
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