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The audio maker Bose, whose wireless headphones sell for up to $350, uses an app to collect the listening habits of its customers and provide that information to third parties—all without the knowledge and permission of the users, according to a lawsuit filed in Chicago on Tuesday.
The complaint accuses Boston-based Bose of violating the WireTap Act and a variety of state privacy laws, adding that a person's audio history can include a window into a person's life and views.
"Indeed, one's personal audio selections – including music, radio broadcast, Podcast, and lecture choices – provide an incredible amount of insight into his or her personality, behavior, political views, and personal identity," says the complaint, noting a person's audio history may contain files like LGBT podcasts or Muslim call-to-prayer recordings.
The lead plaintiff in the lawsuit is a man named Kyle Zak, who claims he followed the company's suggestion to "get the most out of your headphones" by downloading the Bose Connect app, and supplying information such as his name, phone number and email address.
Zak is seeking to represent other headphone owners over allegations of illegal data mining. According to the complaint, Bose created detailed profiles of customers' listening histories and habits, and shared it with marketing companies, including a San Francisco firm called Segment whose website offers to "collect all or[sic] your customer customer data and send it anywhere."
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday April 20 2017, @07:56PM (8 children)
"By powering on this phone, you do agree to being spied on, and your personal information compiled and resold, by any and all companies providing any software or script running on this phone for any purpose at any time, regardless of their source. Google/Apple reserves the unlimited right to prevent, enhance, or profit from some of the spying by third parties."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 20 2017, @08:11PM
OK Google sell my data and pay me my cut of the profits.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Nerdfest on Thursday April 20 2017, @08:14PM (6 children)
Android is no different than Windows, or even Linux. You have *complete* control over what user software is installed. Companies do seem to consider it more "fair game" for snooping, but I think Windows 10 is going to push Windows apps that way as well.
As always, check required permissions, read TOS/Licence agreements and either live with it, or don't use it. There are lost of great applications in FDroid.org that don't spy on you.
In short, it ain't Android that's the problem.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Thursday April 20 2017, @11:37PM
Windows what, 10? I'd say that for 7 but certainly not 10.
(Score: 2) by Zyx Abacab on Thursday April 20 2017, @11:41PM
Android is no different than Windows, or even Linux. You have *complete* control over what user software is installed.
Yeah, right. Windows 10 truly respects your choice to not have Candy Crush, or any one of a dozen default Windows Store apps, installed—and re-installed. Or that you might, as an individual user, want to run `CALC.EXE` from a previous version of Windows. Or that you might like to continue using some browser other than Edge.
I can honestly say I've never before encountered an OS that's so earnest in respecting user control over software.
(Though I do agree with you—Android does a much better job than Windows. By comparison with either, though, Linux is some kind of utopia.)
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Friday April 21 2017, @01:36AM
Android has signed bootloader and various OS assisted software spying, plus the additional radiomodem backdoor - no complete control
Windows is badly coded and has hidden backdoors - no complete control
Linux has the source available for all things - complete control can be achieved
As always hidden CPU management modes, BIOS code, I/O firmware, remote activated chips etc may all thwart even a computer whose OS source you have inspected and control.
Distrust and verify through all levels is a better approach.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday April 21 2017, @02:25AM (2 children)
"Android is no different than Windows, or even Linux."
Technically, you are correct. In practice, you've missed something.
The telcos aren't marketing Android. They aren't even marketing telephones. Instead, they are marketing their own telephones, with OS's and preinstalled application tailored to the telco's own requirements. And, the telco retains root on the device. The telcos make some effort to persuade customers that the phone won't work if the customer attempts to root the device.
It takes some minimal degree of sophistication to understand what is happening, and it takes a little more sophistication than minimal to root your phone, and to install your own Android on it.
The masses, or the proles, or the sheeple, don't have that sophistication. They see, "Oooh, SHINY!" and they are sold. They will dig no deeper. "Permissions? What is that? I understand Angry Birds, if it needs permissions, well, so be it!"
Another way of stating the problem is, "There's a sucker born every minute." Attributed to P.T. Barnum, and/or to David Hannum.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Friday April 21 2017, @12:17PM
Any smart ideas on how to be badly affected by surrounding suckers that are born every minute?
(Score: 3, Informative) by SDRefugee on Friday April 21 2017, @01:33PM
Another way of stating the problem is, "There's a sucker born every minute." Attributed to P.T. Barnum, and/or to David Hannum.
Its getting to the point where "There's a MILLION suckers born every minute.." Attributed to SDRefugee...
America should be proud of Edward Snowden, the hero, whether they know it or not..