Smart phone app developers are being asked to provide privacy policies that will inform users of exactly what personal information is being taken from them, such as contact lists or other sensitive information.
According to Alvaro Monge, a computer science professor at Cal State Long Beach, even if companies were upfront with the information, it does not guarantee that users would actually take the time to read the privacy policies on apps.
“We rely on a lot of apps and websites … Every person needs to take it upon themselves to see what information is being taken,” Monge said.
Sophomore art major Michelle Shaw said she usually allows the apps to do what they need to do so she can use them.
“But now I’ll probably go back and uninstall a few, check the settings or something,” Shaw said. “I’m used to just checking ‘yes’ and moving on. I could be signing my life over and I wouldn’t even notice.”
According to Monge, advertisement is the No. 1 reason that these apps collect information.
Companies obtain sensitive information, including phone numbers and contact lists, so they can “extrapolate” apps or create “better benefits.”
“They might be small, but if combined with other information, that could create a larger profile,” Monge said. “It’s all for marketing … They can sell it or use it for their own purposes.”
Some students, like sophomore communications major Emily Green, find the idea scary.
“If my friend has my phone number and decided to download an app, I can’t do anything to stop that exchange of information,” Green said. “It’s not like I can tell my friend what to install or what not to install. That’s what creeps me out the most.”
Freshman English major Jessica Morales feels the same way.
“It’s like, ‘Here, download this seemingly harmless app and, by the way, we’re recording what you do and storing information while we’re at it without letting you know,'” Morales said.
Others believe that it isn’t anything new.
“They’re always looking at what you do, so it’s not surprising that they would do the same on their apps,” freshman undeclared major Frankie Sanchez said.
Monge suggested app developers have their default settings set so that no information is collected, and, if users wanted to, they could opt in to giving the companies their information.