andrew writes:
"Alternet.org reports recent updates to terms of conditions for Bank of Americas cell phone app and Capital Ones new credit card contract have given banks unsettling new abilities. These privileges include the authority to access to your phone microphone and camera or even showing up at your workplace and home unannounced at any time.
From the the article:
We're witnessing a new era of fascism, where corporations are creating intrusive and over-bearing terms and conditions that customers click to agree to without even reading.
As a result, corporations in America have acquired king-like power, while we're the poor serfs that must abide by their every rule or else."
(Score: 4, Informative) by greenfruitsalad on Monday February 24 2014, @05:14PM
i've found that almost every android app does this nowadays. first few versions require a few privileges and then with every new update more and more permissions are required. if i didn't have cyanogenmod's tool to limit permissions, i'd probably have to uninstall 70% of my apps.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Monday February 24 2014, @05:46PM
Agreed.
Didn't mean to suggest this wasn't a real problem, (and its not just limited to Android).
Just this article, taking a bit from here, mixing in a bit from there, stirring in a bit of conspiracy theory, and trying to make more of it than it is.
Google made a (probably mistaken) preliminary release of an API to manage permissions on a much more granular level, and they will probably be forced into doing a full release of these after the fact permission denial tools. It can't come too soon if you ask me.
Discussion should abhor vacuity, as space does a vacuum.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Cactus on Monday February 24 2014, @05:52PM
So many people don't even look at the permissions. If something tries to add permissions on my Android device that I don't like, I won't update it. As it keeps pestering me about updates I end up having to question how much I really care about the app being there. A lot of things get uninstalled. No, sorry, your to-do list app does not need to access my full contact list.
Luckily there are firewalls and permission-blockers available for rooted devices, too.