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Mobile app data sharing 'out of control' | Mobile app data sharing 'out of control' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Data harvesting and sharing by mobile apps is "out of control", University of Oxford researchers have warned. | Data harvesting and sharing by mobile apps is "out of control", University of Oxford researchers have warned. |
Nearly 90% of free apps on the Google Play store share data with Google parent company Alphabet, the Financial Times reported. | Nearly 90% of free apps on the Google Play store share data with Google parent company Alphabet, the Financial Times reported. |
Google said it had clear policies for how developers could handle data, and that the research had mischaracterised some "ordinary functions" of apps. | Google said it had clear policies for how developers could handle data, and that the research had mischaracterised some "ordinary functions" of apps. |
"If an app violates our policies, we take action," the online giant said. | "If an app violates our policies, we take action," the online giant said. |
Many free apps track behaviour across many different digital services, which lets companies build up a detailed profile of people using the app. | Many free apps track behaviour across many different digital services, which lets companies build up a detailed profile of people using the app. |
This data can include age, gender, location, and information about other apps on a smartphone. | This data can include age, gender, location, and information about other apps on a smartphone. |
The data can then be used for a number of purposes including targeted advertising, credit scoring, or targeted political campaign messages, the researchers said in a paper. | The data can then be used for a number of purposes including targeted advertising, credit scoring, or targeted political campaign messages, the researchers said in a paper. |
Revenues from online advertising are more than $59bn (£45bn) per year in the US alone, they said. | |
And many people are not aware how data flows from smartphones to advertising groups, data brokers and other intermediaries, Prof Nigel Shadbolt, who lead the research team, told the BBC. | |
"People [in businesses] are desperate to get as many eyeballs and click-throughs as they can," he said. | |
Researcher Max Van Kleek added: "I don't think there's any notion of control." | |
Information pool | Information pool |
Data tended to get concentrated by big companies and their subsidiaries. | Data tended to get concentrated by big companies and their subsidiaries. |
The researchers found that more than 88% of free apps on Google Play shared information with firms owned by Alphabet. | The researchers found that more than 88% of free apps on Google Play shared information with firms owned by Alphabet. |
Nearly 43% of apps shared data with Facebook, while significant percentages shared data with Twitter, Verizon, Microsoft and Amazon firms. | Nearly 43% of apps shared data with Facebook, while significant percentages shared data with Twitter, Verizon, Microsoft and Amazon firms. |
News apps - and apps aimed at children - shared information with the largest number of trackers, they found. | News apps - and apps aimed at children - shared information with the largest number of trackers, they found. |
Google said: "Across Google and in Google Play we have clear policies and guidelines for how developers and third-party apps can handle data and we require developers to be transparent and ask for user permission. If an app violates our policies, we take action." | Google said: "Across Google and in Google Play we have clear policies and guidelines for how developers and third-party apps can handle data and we require developers to be transparent and ask for user permission. If an app violates our policies, we take action." |
Google added that it disagreed with the methodology of the study. | Google added that it disagreed with the methodology of the study. |
"It mischaracterises ordinary functional services like crash reporting and analytics, and how apps share data to deliver those services," Google said. | "It mischaracterises ordinary functional services like crash reporting and analytics, and how apps share data to deliver those services," Google said. |
But campaigner Frederike Kaltheuner from Privacy International said that it has become "impossible" for the average user to understand how their data is being used, and to opt out. | But campaigner Frederike Kaltheuner from Privacy International said that it has become "impossible" for the average user to understand how their data is being used, and to opt out. |
"Companies track people... and they use this data to profile and then target people in ways that most of us would find intrusive and very surprising," she said. | "Companies track people... and they use this data to profile and then target people in ways that most of us would find intrusive and very surprising," she said. |
"This is no longer about the need to collect data to show 'relevant ads' - this is about profit maximisation at the expense of people's fundamental rights," Ms Kaltheuner added. | "This is no longer about the need to collect data to show 'relevant ads' - this is about profit maximisation at the expense of people's fundamental rights," Ms Kaltheuner added. |