By Rhonda Campbell
It would appear that the noise around the LinkedIn password breach would have been enough to deter businesses from sharing Internet users’ personal information. However, that may not be the case.
Leave Mobile Devices Owners Alone
In fact, Media Post reports in its July 13, 2012 “Mobile Users Don’t Want to Share Data with Apps or Carriers” article that, “Earlier this year, mobile apps Path and Hipster were caught uploading users’ address books without telling them.” The article continues, “Both companies apparently did so in order to suggest friends for users.”
The outcome was that both companies were sued and slapped on the hands by privacy watchdogs. Owners of mobile devices do not appreciate having their data shared with others absent their permission. In fact, during its “Mobile Phones and Privacy” study the University of California at Berkeley found that, “92% of survey respondents said they either definitely or probably wouldn’t allow a cell phone provider to use their location to tailor ads to them.”
Whether they are driving in their car, surfing the Internet or talking with a friend on the telephone, people do not want to be followed. People do not want their data they keep on mobile devices shared with marketers or other companies in effort to boost a parent firm’s revenues. When consumers pay for mobile applications they do just that, pay for the applications to use on their hand held or mobile devices. They do not pay to have their Internet usage mirrored, mapped, trailed or shared.
It’s not worth it to try to follow mobile app users and owners of mobile devices behind the scenes as, fortunately, watchdogs are looking. Furthermore, the costs of invading a mobile app users’ privacy might be more than companies bargain for, including the costs of a lowered public image, one that may not be easily or quickly repaired.
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Sources:
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/178739/mobile-users-dont-want-to-share-data-with-apps-or.html (Media Post: Mobile Users Don’t Want to Share Data with Apps or Carriers)
