Google and Apple to meet with senator on photo privacy loophole in apps

Following on the heels of reports that smart-device apps have the ability to grab people's personal photos without their knowledge, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) says that Apple and Google have agreed to meet with him to discuss a way to prevent this.

"Developers who make applications for Apple iOS devices have access to a person's entire photo library as long as that person allows the app to use location data," according to the New York Times. Additionally, said the Times, "Android apps do not need permission to get a user's photos, and as long as an app has the right to go to the Internet, it can copy those photos to a remote server without any notice."

The Times also reported that it's "unclear" whether any apps are currently grabbing user images from their phones.

Last month a similar discovery was made concerning apps that were able to access users' contacts without their explicit permission, when the social app Path and others were discovered to be doing just that.

These reports highlight the need for apps permissions to be much more explicit, to make it very clear to potential users exactly what kind of access they're giving and which of their personal data could be appropriated by an app.

You can protect yourself, at least in part, by being very careful about what you download and to read permissions requests fully before you decide to use an app.

Related:
5 ways to protect your smart phone
Cell phone apps may be susceptible to data breaches
Consumer Reports Guide to Online Safety

—Carol Mangis