Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

Uber App Redesign Simplifies Interface, Adds Features at the Expense of Privacy

posted by martyb on Thursday November 03 2016, @04:46PM   Printer-friendly
from the privacy-takes-another-hit dept.

takyon writes:

http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-uber-privacy-20161102-story.html

Uber is taking its ride-hailing app down a new road in an effort to make it smarter, simpler and more fun to use. The redesigned app also will seek to mine personal information stored on smartphones in a change that could raise privacy concerns, even though it will be up to individual users to let Uber peer into their calendars and address books. The change represents the biggest overhaul in four years to Uber Technologies Inc.'s popular app, which is used by millions of people to summon cars in more than 450 cities around the world for rides that are usually cheaper than traditional taxis.

[...] In another time-saving move that will test how much users trust the San Francisco-based company with their personal information, users will be able to give the app access to their calendars so addresses listed in an entry can automatically appear in the Uber app near the time of the appointment. Uber plans to introduce this option by next month. Starting in December, Uber will also seek access to users' personal contacts so they can ask for a ride to wherever a friend currently is. If this feature is activated, Uber's app will contact the friend to ask if he or she is willing to share the current location. If the friend doesn't have the Uber app, the request will be sent through a text message to the mobile number listed in the address book.

Uber says it doesn't expect privacy objections because users will have to agree to allow the app to scan their calendars and address books. And people whose locations are being sought through the new address-book feature will be able to decide whether they want to share the information.

Also at The Verge, CNET, and WSJ.

Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Uber App Redesign Simplifies Interface, Adds Features at the Expense of Privacy | Log In/Create an Account | Top | 23 comments | Search Discussion
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

  • (Score: 3, Informative) by TheRaven on Thursday November 03 2016, @05:05PM

    by TheRaven (270) on Thursday November 03 2016, @05:05PM (#422125) Journal
    No one who cares about Privacy uses the Uber app anyway. The list of permissions that it asks for is completely insane. There's no justification for half of them.
    --
    sudo mod me up
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +1  
       Informative=1, Total=1
    Extra 'Informative' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  
    Total Score:   3  

  • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday November 03 2016, @05:30PM

    by bob_super (1357) on Thursday November 03 2016, @05:30PM (#422138)

    I really need a VM for my phone with a complete set of fake, random and changing full device environment. Then when I need an app to access the real thing (GPS for uber), I can selectively allow the true value or enter a specific valid-looking answer with an expiration timeout.
    I've got a GPS spoofer already, but those apps want access to everything.

  • (Score: 2) by Capt. Obvious on Friday November 04 2016, @07:55PM

    by Capt. Obvious (6089) on Friday November 04 2016, @07:55PM (#422584)

    What permissions other than GPS? (Note, I haven't used Uber in a long time, and then on an iOS device)

    • (Score: 2) by TheRaven on Saturday November 05 2016, @12:23PM

      by TheRaven (270) on Saturday November 05 2016, @12:23PM (#422808) Journal
      I considered installing it, and didn't given the permissions it required. From memory, make calls and send text messages without user interaction, read my contacts, read my calendar, read my browsing history. It seemed that they'd just hit select all.
      --
      sudo mod me up