This data allegedly included sensitive information like religious affiliation, sexual orientation, and health issues.
We assure you, dear consumer, we must know if you are gay to optimize our software. We pinky promise not to sell your info ๐ฅบ
this post was submitted on 01 Feb 2025
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And more importantly, it's not stored in a public accessible database on the internet. Oops!
Oops, we just leaked you're gay to your unimaginably homophobic government. Please accept our shitty corporate apology with nothing else in return ๐ Thanks for being such a good sport about me threatening your life, hope i see you alive tomorrow!
We will review our policies and hope to do better next time.
We have reviewed our policies and saw that it's too expensive to not sell you out. Sorry!
"Amazon apologized and then said they would be sure to track you openly in the future." Not like anyone's going to do anything about it.
Mega corps gonna mega corp and daddy Sam let's them..... Protect yourself
โจUninstallโจ
Whocouldhaveseenthiscoming? ๐ฎ
๐ต You used to track me through my cell phone ๐ถ
Amazon did this through Amazon Ads SDK, code provided to app developers that was then embedded in their apps.
So...
The mobile site is fine, right?
Also, what if you give the app zero permissions, can it still track you? ๐ค
The mobile site is fine, right?
The mobile site would have been fine since it's not an app that would have those local permissions, unless your browser had a popup like "Allow Amazon.com to access your location" and you clicked yes. (e.g. to autofill your address)
what if you give the app zero permissions, can it still track you? ๐ค
This SDK was code embedded in apps by developers. Think of it as part of the app itself. If the app didn't have permission to use your GPS, neither did Amazon's code embedded inside the app.
If the app didnโt have permission to use your GPS, neither did Amazonโs code embedded inside the app.
I thought it was some weird thing with google advertising APIs in android they Amazon could somehow exploit. I'm glad its not that. However, the biggest question is: Why are people giving Amazon the location permission? Its not like the Uber app, there's zero reason Amazon should need that permission. ๐ค
By that same reasoning neither should Uber. It's just a convenience of not having to fill it out manually.
Why are people giving Amazon the location permission?
New Amazon pickup lockers now require the app to access location and nearby devices. It used to be such that Amazon would just give you a pin that would open the locker.
I had to download the app and enable these permissions to get my package out of a locker. It felt gross and took twice as long. I deleted the app as soon as I was done.
God damn wtf. The PIN system was so simple, what the fuck is this shit. Like, its not even just the privacy issue. I want a package, I give the code to a family member, they get it on the way home from work. Why gotta make spending money so difficult?
Original article is from KRON, a Bay Area local news org owned by NexStar Media.
At any rate, that's enough for me to uninstall their app. It does make me wonder what apps use their Amazon Ads SDK.