Is there any recourse short of "don't use the app" that regular users have against this sort of thing?
Is there no meaningful way to push back against Facebook for demanding this permission?
Is there no meaningful way to push back against Facebook for demanding this permission?
Though I don't think I'd be tracing out "Hello". Unless you speak Bronx.
[1] http://www.dailytech.com/Google+Removes+App+Ops+Privacy+Cont...
One engineer can't launch a product alone. Just isn't possible unless its under a personal name.
"and likely ended up paying with his job."
0% chance.
Also, it’s better for Chrome’s security reputation to allow AdBlock from within their store than to allow it from a third-party site. You don’t want to train users that it’s OK to install extensions with broad permissions from anywhere but the Chrome store!
It may become the case in the future that they re-evaluate these priorities, of course.
Android apps ask you if you want to update to the new version or stick with the old one indefinitely; privacy settings are non-negotiable. iOS apps ask you as they go: If iOS had an SMS API, Facebook wouldn't need to ask you until you enabled two-factor authentication (assuming that's all they use it for). And you could turn it back off later if you weren't comfortable leaving it on.
On Android it's all or nothing.
In that situation, I cannot send or receive SMS messages, but FB, etc., work just fine.
You can use my Facebook client, which definitely doesn't read your text messages, emails and calendar.
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flipster&h...
</shameless plug>
Does this constitute a privacy policy?
On Android you can see for yourself whether an app tries to access data such as text messages, emails or calendar.
My app doesn't ask for those permissions, therefore it can't access that data.
I think "not using the app" is the most meaningful way, really.
Alternatively, spoof its private data hose and flood Facebook with garbage data, but I presume that's illegal.
Same as Cyanogenmod without having to root your phone.
Less intrusive, less privacy issues.
And it probably works better than the app.