Angry Birds Violates Privacy Says Wall Street Journal - News
by VGChartz Staff , posted on 21 December 2010 / 8,388 Views
A Wall Street Journal investigation last week examined 101 apps, 56 of those Apps for iPhone and Android transmitted the phone's unique device ID to other companies without users' awareness or consent. Forty-seven apps transmitted the phone's location. Five sent age, gender and other personal details. This is absolutely in violation of Apple and Google’s official policies. Among all apps tested, the most commonly shared detail was the unique ID number assigned to every phone.
It is effectively a "supercookie," said Vishal Gurbuxani, co-founder of Mobclix Inc., an exchange for mobile advertisers. "The great thing about mobile is you can't clear a UDID like you can a cookie," said Meghan O'Holleran of Traffic Marketplace, an Internet ad network that is expanding into mobile apps. "That's how we track everything."
At least four app makers posted privacy policies after being contacted by the Wall Street Journal, including Rovio Mobile Ltd., the Finnish company who developed Angry Birds. Free and paid versions of Angry Birds were tested on an iPhone and according to the Wall Street Journal Angry Birds was the most serious privacy violator, said to be transmitting the most information to third parties. The Wall Street Journal’s profile of Bejeweled 2 accused PopCap of sending phone numbers as well.
Speaking to the UK’s Develop, Rovio strongly denied it was in violation of Apple's rules or that it used the data in any way that put the privacy of an individual at risk.
‘Absolutely none of this has anything to do with advertisers’, says Rovio. “Angry Birds does not under any circumstances collect or store personally identifiable information that could be connected in any way to individual users,” the group said in response to the claims. “Absolutely none of this has anything to do with advertisers - we don't have advertising in our games on the iOS.”
A spokesperson for Rovio said they transmit user data to two sources and applications, and claimed that neither instances were involved any kind of detached advertising firm. Rovio uses the Crystal social gaming platform and Flurry analytical software to transmit Angry Birds user data, the spokesperson said.
“Crystal does not store any personal information, as insinuated by the WSJ article, nor does it utilize any data without the user's explicit knowledge.”
The spokesperson continued: “Flurry collects analytical data to display numerical data such as numbers of users per different countries based on Phone ID and general location. This information is only displayed as aggregate statistics - Flurry never stores or displays any data pertaining to an individual.”
That's what we know so far. The Wall Street Journal, a publication of note, says that Angry Birds violates the privacy of individuals, and Rovio says that they don't. Undoubtedly this will effect how Apple and Google monitor their apps, and will effect sales negatively. How about you? Will you purchase or continue to use Angry Birds?
More Articles
Because we all know that the Wall Street Journal is better at screening apps than Apple and Google's hired app reviewers. Definitely.
Expected.
Welcome to New World Order.
Hopefully there will be a follow up article revealing the end of this story when it comes.
Damn those birds just keeping making me ANGRY!!
I wonder about those apps sometimes, too. I mean, is there a reason why a CALENDAR app needs to have access to my messages, etc.? I don't know what info is collected and to whom it's being sent but it just doesn't feel right. It's like somebody can potentially know my habits and location......but damn, Angry Birds is fun!!
Not sure if people can stop purchasing Angry Birds when it is free. :-)
I love Angry BIRDS. I won't stop playing. (Android)
Hmmm, well I don't think i really have that much info to give out... As long as they can't access my bill info then i guess i'm cool, or my email stuff
