Joshua Coon
Christian. Student. Photographer.
3/31/2017 0 Comments 09 Verizon dabbles with big dataOn March 30th, 2017, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, or EFF, posted an article divulging information on a Verizon Wireless initiative to collect personal information from all of their customers who use Android phones. This post has since been drastically modified and revised after a swift response from Verizon attempted to minimize damage done to their public opinion. If you are not aware, the EFF “is the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world.[1]” They investigate software and digital technologies around the globe to ensure a consumers may enjoy privacy, expressive freedoms, and creativity. In the report, the EFF revealed that Verizon is testing an Android application for all Android phones activated on their network. Once ready for release, the software would be pushed to millions of devices via an over-the-air update. So, what is this application? Why is it causing such a stir? The app, called “AppFlash,” is a software program that is actually an “app launcher and web search utility” that will allow Verizon to “be able to sell ads to you across the Internet based on things like which bank you use and whether you’ve downloaded a fertility app.” AppFlash would be able to collect pretty much all of the data on your phone: “cell number, device type, operating system and the apps or services that you use…” as well as, “everything installed on your device, your location and the contact details of everyone in your phonebook.[2]” The reasoning for this massive overreach in data collection is in the interest of advertising strictly within Verizon owned companies. Verizon claims that it will, “provide more relevant advertising within the AppFlash experiences and in other places.” “Other places” is not very well described, which could be a pandora's box in regards to where customer information might be spread across the internet. Additionally, concern over AppFlash’s security have surfaced. The app could potentially infect millions of devices with security holes for hackers to exploit within the app. As an example, due to the app soon being installed on millions of devices with sensitive and personal data, hackers will most certainly be probing AppFlash for exploits to manipulate for nefarious reasons. In the end, Verizon’s intent to collect unprecedented amounts of private user data points to a much larger issue. Companies are becoming increasingly more bold in invading their customers data. Most shockingly, the vast majority of Verizon users will never even know. The poses an ethical issue that must be discussed amongst lawmakers, the tech industry, and most importantly, the general public. The ethical grey-area of ‘big data’ is still a young issue and one that must be proactively ironed out. People must engage in the debate and have their voices heard. That is the only way for fair and beneficial progress to be made to ensure a safe, growing, and healthy society.
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