We all know that Twitter has recently announced about its new tool by name app graph. It is said that this app tracks down the apps installed by the users on their devices. Even though it is believed that this app will collect only the list of apps and not the exact content, users are slightly hesitating with the use of this app. Is Twitter trying to secretly spy on the user’s usage with phones?
Answered By
Leon Fra
5 points
N/A
#185670
Is Twitter trying to secretly spy on the user’s usage with phones?
“Is Twitter trying to secretly spy on the user’s usage with phones?”
The answer is “Yes” and “No”. I will provide support for both answers
“Yes” – On Twitter’s help center, they explained that their too app graph does not collect specific content, but it does track the list of apps installed on a user’s device. And note, you must turn off this feature for each app that you do not want tracked. Twitter explained that tracking the apps installed on a user’s device will help them to improve user experience by customizing the “who to follow” recommendations, what is included in your timeline, and the marketing materials that are presented to you. So, though the info Twitter gathers are not specific (metadata as they call it, which is a euphemism for mass surveillance), the data is still used to chart their marketing course.
Data which would they otherwise would not have had access to without the tool.
“No” – Mass surveillance is a built in feature that developers rely on: iOS and Android API developers are doing it.
If we took the time to read the 10,000-word Terms of Service document for the apps installed, we may very well find that the given app’s tracking feature is standard set to be ON. It will be turned off when you take note. So you can consider it that there is no mass surveillance if you are not aware of or too concerned by Twitter’s app graph gathering general data… Or there is no mass surveillance if you choose to keep the feature ON for your content sensitive app.
Please note that Twitter also mentioned that the app graph does not gather sensitive data dealing with your health, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs.
You can turn the feature off when….
Using Twitter for Android:
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Touch the overflow icon
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Touch Settings.
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Touch the account you’d like to adjust.
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Under Other, you can change the option to Tailor Twitter based on my apps.
Using Twitter for iOS:
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From the Me tab, Touch the gear icon
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Touch Settings.
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Touch the account you’d like to adjust.
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Under Privacy, you can change the option to Tailor Twitter based on my apps.
