[Discuss] Android privacy

[Richard Pieri]

Shankar Viswanathan wrote:
> Android apps. In addition to the idea of having a common ad network
> framework (mentioned elsewhere in this thread), I feel there is

Which Google provides. It's called the Google Mobile Ads SDK.

> another way we could make the permissions work for everyone. Consider
> a two-tiered permission system consisting of: 1. Required

This won't fly. App developers currently have one set of rules to work 
within: they request a set of permissions from the software management 
system. If the user accepts the requirements then the Play Store 
installs the app. If the user denies the requirements then the 
application will not be installed at all. Simple.

What you are suggesting is complicated for users who typically don't 
understand the differences between, say, unlimited network access and 
unlimited baseband network access. They're going to be confused when the 
Play Store asks them twice about these permissions thingies when all 
they want is their Angry Birds or whatever this month's flavor happens 
to be.

What you are suggesting is complicated for developers who often enough 
are lazy and unscrupulous. Your proposal introduces at least two 
different, possibly conflicting, possibly /changing/ environments for 
every user. It's bad enough that when someone asks for an Android 
version of an application the initial response is "which Android?" 
Developers won't bother with optional permissions. It'll be all or 
nothing. And to be honest? That's the right way to do it from a 
development and QA perspective even if it is a poor practice.

The unscrupulous ones? They'll figure out ways to game the system 
regardless of the protections.

-- 
Rich P.