Google bans stalkerware apps from Android store. Which is cool but... why were they allowed in the first place?
- Reference: 1600370890
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/09/17/google_bans_stalkerware_android_apps/
- Source link:
Stalkerware, which the web giant defines as "code that transmits personal information off the device without adequate notice or consent and doesn't display a persistent notification that this is happening," may still be used for keeping track of one's kids.
But starting October 1, 2020, the ad biz says it's no longer acceptable for Android apps in the Google Play Store to track another person, such as a spouse, without permission, unless there's a persistent visible notification that data is being transmitted.
[1]The ban follows a similar prohibition in August [2]on Google-served ads for "spyware and technology used for intimate partner surveillance," which reportedly hasn't worked very well.
In recent years, computer security experts have [3]argued that the privacy and security risks in intimate relationships remain haven't been adequately anticipated or addressed.
But rules against invasive behavior aren't necessarily effective. Via Twitter, Michael Veale, a lecturer at University College London, [4]observed that a [5]2018 research paper "found that 'abusers frequently exploit dual-use applications—tools whose main purpose is legitimate but that can be easily repurposed to function as spyware,' so banning explicit stalkerware of questionable efficacy."
Google will continue to allow non-stalkerware apps (i.e. policy compliant apps) to monitor and track people, provided the programs are not marketed as surveillance apps, they disclose any such functions, and they present the requisite persistent notification and icon.
Monitoring apps of the permissible sort continue to be subject to removal for violating applicable laws in the locations where they're published, and may not link to resources (e.g. servers, SDKs) that provide policy violating functions or non-compliant APKs hosted outside the Google Play Store.
Google's developer policy update also includes a ban on misrepresentation, both for apps and developer accounts. Apps or accounts that impersonate a person or organization, or attempt to conceal the app's purpose or ownership, or engage in coordinated misleading activity, are no longer allowed.
Online gambling apps have been disallowed too, except for in Brazil (with government approval), France, Ireland, and the UK. ®
Get our [6]Tech Resources
[1] https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/10065487
[2] https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/9726908?hl=en&ref_topic=29265
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2020/06/11/insider_threat_study/
[4] https://twitter.com/mikarv/status/1306335173148135424?s=20
[5] https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3173574.3174241
[6] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Stalking app?
Well, they are starting a program where people can report stalking apps*. Any app reported there will be reviewed by a team they're creating*. Any app deemed to be targeting nonconsenting adults will be removed immediately and added to Play Protect*, and the people whose devices were affected will receive information about what was happening to them and helpful resources to be assembled by a partnership between Google and organizations who help victims of domestic abuse*.
*None of those things are actually happening. Google, these suggestions are released in the public domain. Please pick them up.
Re: Stalking app?
Great suggestions.
In the old days of landline phones, a person receiving a harassing phone call in parts of the US could hit *55 after hanging up. This logged the call with the phone company. After two logged calls from that number, you could report it to the police for harassment. Simple and practical.
This situation with these apps is why appropriate government regulations are essential, because sadly, many businesses will not act properly without them and tech is not different in that way. It's just taking governments way too long to catch up. Government agencies should investigate the extent to which these apps are being abused and figure out a way to address it.
Great photo
Love the stock photo. She looks like she's about to kick someone's ass.
Problem solved?
So now we'll see all the stalkerware apps rewrite their terms and privacy agreements so that they can continue. The first page will say "We do not stalk non-consenting adults" and sixteen pages later it will start with "Except in circumstances defined on our website privacy exception page and by continuing to use the app you agree to ..."
Re: Problem solved?
The same principle could be used to solve gun crime in the US. All guns sold must have paperwork with them stating the gun can only be used for target practice and never aimed at a human being. Problem solved.
Re: Problem solved?
Good in theory but gun resale is a massive problem.
In any case now it is possible to 3D print guns, so there's that.
Re: Problem solved?
3D printed plastic guns have a slight problem, they tend to be completely destroyed by the action of firing them. The 3D adhesive bonds just cannot cut it.
Meanwhile, some space aged pirateers are now using 3D printed metallic powders to create metallic options.
The amount of ads for this crap...
I get interstitials on some apps and they seem to fall into 3 general kinds of shady app:
1. RAID: Shadow Legends. This thing is a pox
2. Games promising PayPal payouts that you will NEVER EVER SEE. So many damned games promising you'll earn thousands from playing them when in fact they'll just harvest the poor bastards who install them for ad impressions.
3. Tracker / spy apps
I'm glad Google are banning spy apps but ban the other stuff too please. PayPal scams are so prevalent that Google should just ban them on sight.
Re: The amount of ads for this crap...
Are these the "actors" are of oriental descent, with dubbed US accents and you can earn £150 then the next bit it is showing €10,000, all in 5 seconds of playing?
You'll be glad to know you get them on Apple as well. Unity Ads is the scum agency that pushes these.
Stasi
I lived in a wee miners village in Scotland, 47 houses, 104 cats. A local woman (that's me being polite) teamed up with a developer to turn it into a town and a rally track. Everyone else objected.
We caught her using a tape recorder in her handbag to record private conversations to blackmail folk. Only because we heard it click off.
My first thought was I am techie, I could easily record every house without being caught. My second thought was, Jeez, that was a horrific first thought.
We stopped the development using the normal, banal, moral means.
Great they are doing this...
However whats to stop a jealous, abusive spouse from installing the app thats fine because its just for tracking kids?
Where is my phone?
My Nokia 1 has an inbuilt app to locate the phone that keeps enabling itself no matter how many times I disable it. Wanna guess how similar apps can be used to locate another adult phone quite easily?
Stalking app?
Do they have an app for *protecting* victims from stalking? That would be actually useful, instead of the many useless apps they have.
Google's desire to easily track us all the time runs contrary to the needs of some of us to absolute privacy - if such a thing even exists any more. I wonder if they have ever been sued by someone whose location was exposed this way, and suffered the consequences. If not, they should be. That's often the most powerful way to effect change in the US, especially since the current government couldn't be bothered to regulate anything except protests.
Some abusers will stop at nothing. A friend worked for a UK domestic violence charity. Some shelter locations were exposed through the abusive parent giving their own kid a toy with a tracking device hidden inside. Tech is supposed to make things easier, unfortunately bad or criminal behavior becomes easier also.