Mobile App Privacy

The cluster discusses privacy concerns with mobile apps, including data collection without consent, excessive permissions like location and device ID access, tracking by developers and platforms like Apple/Google, and skepticism about apps claiming no surveillance.

📉 Falling 0.5x Security
5,307
Comments
19
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#1067
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2008
2
2009
14
2010
56
2011
103
2012
118
2013
134
2014
181
2015
134
2016
204
2017
258
2018
414
2019
538
2020
640
2021
623
2022
534
2023
482
2024
366
2025
487
2026
19

Keywords

MS LALIGA hipaajournal.com techcrunch.com ycombinator.com ID NO substack.com SDK FBI app apps data phone device information permissions privacy tracking user

Sample Comments

r1ch Dec 6, 2023 View on HN

The app developer will still send them to Apple / Google though so the data will still be available to snoop on.

monochromatic Oct 19, 2015 View on HN

How is this not creepy? Apps shouldn't be sniffing around in my data unless I tell them to.

joshwa Feb 19, 2009 View on HN

Yes, developers put this in their apps, which I've downloaded, and collect and share this data without my consent.

ajzinsbwbs Jun 30, 2020 View on HN

How does having these apps on my phone hurt my privacy?

SimeVidas Nov 11, 2018 View on HN

What sorts of privacy issues do I avoid by using that app on my smartphone?

lighthazard Jun 21, 2015 View on HN

That seems wrong.. you can easily track app usage. Apple and Google have insane amounts of information about the devices and apps being used on each device.

lucasnortj Sep 9, 2020 View on HN

Another app so another company can surveil the user as well as google?

cripblip Sep 20, 2020 View on HN

Could you expand on this? Does the app have more surveillance/data gathering than other? Genuinely curious, feeling naive

scarface_74 Jul 21, 2023 View on HN

How can apps invade your privacy without explicitly giving them permission?

navigate8310 Dec 30, 2025 View on HN

Everyone knows all the apps on your phonehttps://peabee.substack.com/p/everyone-knows-what-apps-you-u...Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43518866