Hacker News Reader

Comment by threeseed | Hacker News Reader

> Browsers can't access all the APIs in iOS

And nor should they.

Every single API that gets added to a browser increases the likelihood that you will be accurately fingerprinted and tracked across the web. This data is then packaged and sold to third parties whom you will never know about.

Every time I hear the PWA argument it's always what is in the best interest of developers not users.

View on HN

Apps fingerprint you much, much better, and can access more data (despite what apple marketing says), your argument is moot.

What data can apps access without your explicit permission?

install tiktok (if you do not have it) and disable everything, no mic/camera/photos/contacts/… nothing. then ask you partner/friend/… to send you some text messages about purchasing an ebike for instance. open safari and do some searches for ebikes (https://blue.bike perhaps and others)… the head on over to tiktok and scroll a bit and see if any ebikes start showing up…

a) There is no evidence that Apple is sharing messages with third parties.

b) You are simply confirming my point which is that when you visit a website it is able to tie you to an consistent identifier through the APIs your browser supports.

there is no evidence for a whole lot of things… /s

So you think there a conspiracy and that TikTok for iOS has been able to break out of its sandbox and read your text messages?

This would have made news if so.

You do realize that it was the “open safari and do some searches for ebikes” step that causes you to get the ads in TikTok, right?

What? No. Apps are guaranteed to be sandboxed and can’t access anything you don’t let them.

> Every time I hear the PWA argument it's always what is in the best interest of developers not users.

I can control a web app through customizations to my browser in ways I can't with a native app. It's about user choice.

Fingerprinting isn't going anywhere without legislation. New browser APIs or PWAs won't change the underlying problem. It's the same status quo.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com