cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/16216017

My grocery store wants to know my BMI

If they were interested in my location they could request location data. What are the odds they are doing this to directly market products to people based on health data?

Inb4 “They already do that based on what you regularly purchase”

Of course, yes they do. This appears to be one more layer on top of it. And surely they wouldn’t share that information with the pharmacy, right?

  • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    It’s a telemetry category. What ever OS that is does not do separate permissions, probably not to confuse tech-illiterate users.

    Scummy of the OS? No. Stupid? Well, it’s made for stupid people…

    The app MIGHT want location just to limit items to what are actually locally available in your area and the like. Though with modern capitalism… Who’s to say how many companies will see that information for no other reason than they want to own you…

    • BowtiesAreCool@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      This is iOS, if it was asking for location it would say location. This is specifically asking for health data like BMI, average heart rate if they wear an Apple Watch, steps etc.

      • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        iOS … ok that makes sense for the made for stupid people but… Does the application control the subtext of the permissions request? If location is NOT included in that category, then Apple has made a grave mistake of allowing app makers to openly lie to users…

        BTW, a mismatch in permissions could be because the app was made with a common build tool that doesn’t understand (or maybe the app developer themselves failed to understand) that it could request location by itself.

        … Or they really are trying to harvest more info than they want to admit… but then I ask … Why is it on Apple’s closed app store if it’s lying to users? (because Apple also doesn’t care. they just want to appear to care)