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by rampant_ai 2574 days ago
> The best way to avoid being tracked is to use apps that you pay for, not apps that are free and make money with your data.

Nearly all apps, paid or not, use 3rd party analytics tools to improve their engagement. If the app requires sensitive data to function, like your contacts, it's also available to the analytics tool. Even the app's developer might not be aware of what the tools they're using are collecting.
1 comments
olliej 2574 days ago
If the app developer is not aware of what the code they ship is collecting from their customers, the app developer should not be including that code.

More over: why are you using an analytics system that involves sending your user's data to an arbitrary third party? Someone who is using your app has agreed to a relationship with you, not with facebook, or google, or what have you.

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rampant_ai 2574 days ago
> why are you using an analytics system that involves sending your user's data to an arbitrary third party

Self-hosted analytics frameworks exist, but unfortunately aren't as popular because of the setup involved.

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olliej 2574 days ago
Yes, but there seems to be a failure to recognize that you're transferring the cost of setup onto your users, often (almost always) without their knowledge, and definitely not any kind of meaningful consent.

Personally I'm of the opinion that if you charged a user for your app, and then require that data be provided to an arbitrary third party, then that user should be allowed to get a refund for your product. Similarly if you ship an update that invades a user's privacy then they should be entitled to a refund - you just rob them of functionality (the ability to use your app).

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