Note the \u201cappification\u201d of everything and the centralization of data onto those apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By creating an app, a developer can gain exponentially more information than through the user visiting their website for the same content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While websites are limited to the tracking and privacy settings of the browser, apps can further that reach well beyond that scope. Apps continue to live on your device even when they are not in active use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apps are often created with the sole purpose of phoning home to the developer and monetization. Because of this, very often, information is being relayed to the app developer or owner on a continuous basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If they create an incentive, tokenization, or an app purchase system, they can even charge the user for add ons or use of the app. In essence, not only are they taking the user\u2019s data, they are also charging the user to steal their data<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many apps do exist for less nefarious reasons. For instance, to make it easier and more accessible, an app may want access to the accelerometer on a device to understand physical movement and stability, or a video chat app might need access to the video and mic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not all apps are always trying to steal your data, but most of them do<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A particularly egregious genre of app are video and music streaming apps, which collect an exceedingly high amount of data. They can access contacts, financial data, search history, location purchases, behavior, predictions of the user\u2019s sexuality, and even family and friend relationship connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it may not seem immediately apparent why this kind of gathering of information can be harmful, it is often due to the fact that they bury that this information theft is occurring. Companies are taking and stealing user data so easily when that data is more precious than any currency in the world<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Particularly in this malevolent political climate, period, pregnancy and health tracking apps have become acutely weaponized. Dating apps that contain information about gender markers or sexuality could potentially become exploited. Information that is used to register for customs and border entry and exit could become grounds for deportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask yourself the following questions about any apps that you might have on your phone or that you might want to download in the future:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Log out of and delete any unnecessary apps<\/strong>. Websites can easily be bookmarked for easy and repeated access. Often, website links can even be saved as an icon to give the feel of an OS-based app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite what the tech industry has been telling you for many years, apps are not everything. They take everything. They’re not everything. Big tech has every reason to push apps onto us, and we have every reason to push back<\/strong>. Stop the appification of your data and theft of your digital identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As always, if and when you can opt out, opt out, opt out<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Note the \u201cappification\u201d of everything and the centralization of data onto those apps. By creating an app, a developer can gain exponentially more information than…<\/p>\n\n