iPhone App Downloaded All Your Contacts Without Permission…Then Apologizes
- Posted on February 9, 2012 at 11:40pm by
Liz Klimas
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Earlier this week, it was revealed that Path — an iPhone app with 2 million users that provides a journal or “path” of “your life on the go” — downloaded the contact lists from phones to its servers without users’ permission. The company quickly apologized as backlash over this violation spread, deleted all the contacts it had acquired and released a new app that asked permission before downloading contacts.
A Reuters report states that this a classic example that while even though people are becoming increasingly desensitized over the information they provide on the Internet and with apps on mobile devices, not asking permission is a deadly mistake.
Arun Thampi wrote on his blog earlier this week the discovery that his entire address book on his iPhone was being sent to Path. At the time he said:
I’m not insinuating that Path is doing something nefarious with my address book but I feel quite violated that my address book is being held remotely on a third-party service. I love Path as an iOS app and I think there are some brilliant people working on it, but this seems a little creepy. I wonder how many other iOS apps actually do the same…
Naked Security Sophos also pointed out that another blogger found a second iPhone app called Hipster was conducting similar activity.
Thampi was soon contacted by Path’s co-founder and CEO Dave Morin, who thanked him for pointing this out and said that the company, which launched in 2010, “[uploads] the address book to our servers in order to help the user find and connect to their friends and family on Path quickly and effeciently as well as to notify them when friends and family join Path. Nothing more.”
Within a day, Path issued a formal apology on its blog and released an updated version of the app, which asks permission from users before downloading the contact list. Morin wrote:
Through the feedback we’ve received from all of you, we now understand that the way we had designed our ‘Add Friends’ feature was wrong. We are deeply sorry if you were uncomfortable with how our application used your phone contacts.
[...]
We care deeply about your privacy and about creating a trusted place for you to share life with your close friends and family. As we continue to expand and grow we will make some mistakes along the way. We commit to you that we will continue to be transparent and always serve you, our users, first.
The company has been lauded for its response to user outcry, with some who said they were leaving app now returning. But others are still not so quick to forgive.
Several social media groups have come under fire for not asking for permission or user input before making changes. Google most recently has received criticism for updates it plans on making to its privacy policy and its new “Search, Plus Your Life” feature. Facebook has had several run-ins with users for not being transparent with changes. In fact, in November of last year, the company settled charges with the Federal Trade Commission over misleading users and has committed to 20 years of audits and requiring “opt-in“ features instead of ”opt-out” as it had previously used.
With this larger issue of app privacy ,Hipster, which also issued an apology for downloading information without permission, has called for a conference to discuss among varying groups.
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radconserv
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:02amAnd we’re suppose to “take their word” that the contracts have been deleted?
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 7:35pmApology?? hell if these companies had to PAY each and every customer a $100 per violation …the violations would stop. BUT, the sheeple don’t get together like lobbyist and demand the kind of changes needed to curb the violations of their persons by CORPORATIONS or GOVERMENT. They actually bought into the notion that they are nothing more than working stiffs without power and are at the mercy of larger immoral entities. YOU ARE BEING ABUSED VIA TECHNOLOGY…………wasn’t technology supposed to enhance your life not restrict or violate it?????????????WAKE UP SHEEPLE. quit taking in the pooper shooter.
Report Post »OneTermPresident
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 8:53amMost of us have heard this before but it seems to fit nicely with the topic here. When I first heard it several years ago I didn‘t give it much thought outside of it’s humor content… but now it seems we are getting closer to it each year.
Big Brother Pizza Order..APP?
You tell me… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSZuHWczcDg
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 10:51amWhy on earth would anyone want to use an app that basically tracks your life? How can you complain about a privacy violation when you load an app that is designed to post everywhere you go?
Report Post »Spyder
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 12:12pm@OneTermPresident
Report Post »Thx for the link. I needed a good laugh and now I think I can cry too. LOL
pavepaws
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 3:07pmFunny link. Still,sad.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 7:59am.
If you got my “Contact List”, I Double Dog Dare you to go mess with Jessie……
How many phone numbers can you remember? I swear I used to know 50 to a 100 numbers, now I can hardly remember my own number without looking at my damn phone……..
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 8:14amYou know you are right. Before cell phones, I could remember all my families and friends numbers — it was like I had a phone book in my head. Now, I can only remember a few. Know what else I have noticed? The younger generation not being able to use a damn dictionary and spell. Everything today has a built in spell checker. The dumbing down of America and everywhere else for that matter is here and growing exponentially.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 9:21amI honestly don‘t know my wife’s cell number Monkey and I can remember the phone numbers in the homes I grew up in!
Report Post »superbyelich
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 10:34amI actually turned off spell check on my iPad because it’s annoying.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 10:35am.
Report Post »Me too Gonzo, I have a bad case of CRS when it comes to phone numbers……
Detroit paperboy
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 1:06pm@gonzo
Report Post »I know your wife’s phone number……. Just kidding ; ))
Detroit paperboy
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 7:20amI’ve bought and read a newspaper every day since i was ten years old, got my iphone a year ago and have not bought a newspaper since that day ! I get all my news from this thing, i must admit, i love this damn thing…..its addictive !
Report Post »Obeckian1984
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 7:32amgeorge orwell would not believe how dumb we all became
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 7:16amEarlier this week, it was revealed that Path — an iPhone app with 2 million users that provides a journal or “path” of “your life on the go” — downloaded the contact lists from phones to its servers without users’ permission. The company quickly apologized as backlash over this violation spread, deleted all the contacts it had acquired and released a new app that asked permission before downloading contacts.
Report Post »That’s funny, because I have been warned that “Anything” that is put on the internet is never Actually deleted. You know that information is still somewhere.
Midwest Blonde
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 7:13amI don’t understand the need for any apps on a phone – when I want a phone, it’s JUST TO BE USED as a phone. I can‘t even FIND a simple cell phone that doesn’t have a camera in it. That’s ONE reason I no longer have a cell. My land line works fine.
Report Post »Dano62
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 8:53amI agree with you. All I want is a phone. I’ve had the same cell phone for six years. It’s an LG200C TracFone. No camera or any other goodies, but it works. I only use about 800 minutes a year ($80), so it’s a good deal for me.
Report Post »fatsomann
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 6:49amAn apology is only as good as the sincerity behind it.
Report Post »Susystin
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 3:40pmAll you iphone users could drop your service with them. Did you think of that? They didn’t need to apologize. They knew exactly what they were doing. And, they can sell all to other companies and make more money. What you need to worry about is what they gave to the government.
Report Post »ZABO
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 5:10amkeep putting your trust in these smart phones people. i have a good old fashion dumb phone and that’s all i need. i’m going off facebook too! i‘m just glad that i’m smarter than my phone. not to many people can say that anymore.
Report Post »4xeverything
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 4:53amAll of a sudden over the last few weeks, my husband has been receiving solicitation calls on his business cell phone. The weird thing is, all of his customers know that the cell phone is his, but the business cell phone is in his father’s name, yet the solicitors ask for my husband by name.
Could it be that they are selling this info?
Report Post »Earl Graystoke
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 3:14amWTH is wrong with iPhone designers that they let ANY app have the ability to export your contacts!!
Perhaps they think all their umpteen zillion app developers are so highly moral and trustworthy that “they’d never do anything like that!”
Report Post »musicory
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 2:28amiPhone apps have been doing this for years (yes, years). It’s been a well-kept secret in the developer’s world. What people fail to realize is that, while there is potential for harm, the intent is to improve the user experience for the person using the application. (For example, this makes finding your friends also using the application very easy.) That being said, I’m very careful with the apps I download because there is a good chance that some of the more shady applications might very well sell your information to marketers. It’s just a shame that a user of Path discovered this. There was absolutely no foul play done on the part of Path in this case.
Report Post »Mikev5
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 3:39amI don’t think so you gloss this bad behavior over all too easy and it is bad behavior you should be given a chance to say oh that’s ok not just grab them and say I’m only helping you find friends. Does anyone really need help finding friends … Really I mean really!!!! Hello Im an idiot!!!
Are we that stupid?
Report Post »ConservativeBrony
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 1:29amWith a name like hipster is that any surprise? Never used Path before (no iphone), but they shouldn’t have that kind of access to your data like that.
Report Post »eternal_vigilance
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 12:50am“In fact, in November of last year, the company settled charges with the Federal Trade Commission over misleading users and has committed to 20 years of audits and requiring “opt-in“ features instead of ”opt-out” as it had previously used.” REALLY
Report Post »But the FTC tells CONSUMERS that they have to OPT-OUT via the DO NOT CALL LIST vs opt-in to call me any hour of the day/night with harassing collection scams or canned recordings for cruises, etc.
And there are plenty more examples. However, I see someone is pushing for OPT-IN for phone books. Looks like we’re into change for the sake of change these days. Guess it’s makes them feel important and look busy. Let’s see what we can make the sheeple do today.
4xeverything
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 4:57amIt was quite amazing at how quiet my phone was after opting out though. Ahhh, the sweet sound of silence.
Report Post »judyaz
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 12:05amWonder who iPhone has contracts with, or agreements to share info? Or is that none of our biz? Yet every move we make, every contact we have is theirs? Hmmm….
Report Post »Is it about power? Whatever happened to honesty and respect? Did it die with Miss American Pie?
pamela kay
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 4:05amJUDYAZ, Good comment, I agre.
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