– What do apps with really invasive data collections actually get from users, and should I delete an app that I just discovered does this?

Question

I’ve had a game I’ve been playing on my phone for a year or so now. I noticed they made a sequel and checked it out. Now that the Apple App Store shows you pretty plainly an idea of what data the apps mine, I checked out the one I’ve had for a while. Reading their privacy policy, they state they have collected users basic info- name, email, phone number- but also information like drivers license and social security numbers. Am I screwed? Do I delete the app?

In: 67

Answer 1

Your phone knows every time you pick it up. It knows every time you open an app and in what order you check your apps. This may not be important to you but it means a lot to people who collect data. They know the pictures you look at, the articles you click on, the things you send to your friends, the things you laugh at, the things you ignore, and more importantly… The things that piss you off. You can be manipulated very subtly into making purchases and decisions.