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by doc_holliday 3463 days ago
I would imaging they are simplifying slightly, by using the term app. They wouldn't know for completely offline apps.

They probably mean for instance the Gov would know when you use Instagram, Facebook etc on your phone.

As the iOS or Android app will be sending requests to Instagram, Facebook etc IP and the Gov will log this.
2 comments
gutnor 3463 days ago
Indeed, the simplification is probably for reader: so they don't think they can avoid being monitored by simply using the facebook app rather than facebook in a browser.
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shubb 3463 days ago
However, this is a law, and laws must be written to be read very litterally.

They could have made the law more general by talking about 'messages' or 'accesses a server'.

They said app used. That genuinely could compel Google or Apple to hand over your usage metrics.

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OJFord 3463 days ago
> They probably mean for instance the Gov would know when you use Instagram, Facebook etc on your phone.

But how?

> As the iOS or Android app will be sending requests to Instagram, Facebook etc IP and the Gov will log this.

That says that I "visited" (in a sense) Instagram, Facebook, etc. - not that I used the Instagram or Facebook app to do it.

I don't think that's a meaningless distinction.

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doc_holliday 3463 days ago
Yes, you are right in strict definition that they won't know specifically which app you used to visit a site. Yes you visited for example Hacker News (according to the IP log) but they wouldn't know which of the many Hacker News apps you used to visit it. That is right and accurate, so yes they don't know which specific app you used.

However, the use of the term app is probably more to do with vast usage of apps to now consume the internet. So if you now just use the term "website", many of the general populace (who aren't technical) will think that's fine they won't know because I use apps for Facebook etc.

It's important people know that this covers access through apps. So they simplify the usage of that term.

Technically incorrect yes, but probably a proper description for general readers.

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TheGrumpyBrit 3463 days ago
I would assume it's something like the difference between visiting "facebook.com" and "api.facebook.com"
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