This is pretty much just fear mongering BS. Yeah.. the permissions are as described, but they pretty much *have to be* for the apps to do what you ask them to do (make a call, send a text message, take a picture, video, etc). I take a picture or shoot a video with a Facebook-owned app (Instagram, Messenger, et al.) and YES, OF COURSE it needs permission to access my phones camera and audio (for video) anytime without confirmation. Like users are going to be okay with a subsequent confirmation screen popping up each time they want to do something the apps need to do. The FREE, Google-adapted, open-source Android OS does this too. So do many other communications apps on these smart phones. The only way around this inevitability is to get completely off the grid. Use a credit card? Electronic fingerprint. Make a mobile phone call? Electronic fingerprint. Send a text message? Electronic fingerprint. Perform a Google (or other) search? Electronic fingerprint. Watch a video or movie? Electronic fingerprint. Walk in/out of a store, airport, or just about any other place where there are cameras and RFID scanners? Electronic fingerprint. The list goes on and on. They will know who you are and what you do. They will know your normal patterns and when you deviate from them. Now... this is not to say there arent some REALLY IMPORTANT aspects of this inevitability that users need to be aware of, but this is just a small part of a much, MUCH larger issue concerning your digital future and personal dossier. And there IS a digital dossier on you (and me). I should note that I DO NOT used Facebook Messenger. But its for a different reason. I dont want to give Facebook more and more footprint power over my mobile communications experience. If Facebook has their way, they will OVERLAY the various operating systems and be THE dominant experience interface on our mobile devices. Rather than one growing-larger-and-larger piece of bloatware on your device, they realize its better to divide the app up into several pieces (apps) at this point.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 20:05:59 +0000
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