2317
The Zuck suck is in full swing. (social.fossware.space)

In the few short hours since I started using #Threads, #DuckDuckGo has already blocked over 200 data tracking attempts. These include things like "headphone status" and "screen density."

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] OutrageousUmpire@lemmy.world 35 points 1 year ago

Also, what the hell does it need "headphone status" for?

[-] Hildegarde@lemmy.world 41 points 1 year ago

Bluetooth headphones have unique identifying information. Another data point for apps that the headphone jack doesn't provide.

[-] MobiusNone@lemmy.sdf.org 19 points 1 year ago

Honestly not defending them because the android app can potentially track your credit score, but this is probably to pause videos when headphones unplug and perform similar actions.

[-] Tag365@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago

But it seems like DuckDuckGo is blocking them, which implies the system that's tracking that is trying to upload that data onto a server, not just using it for pausing videos and stuff.

[-] mrnomoniker@lemmy.studio 6 points 1 year ago

Right, it wouldn’t need to communicate to corporate, just to the app itself.

[-] MobiusNone@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 year ago

You both are probably right I forgot this was the android app. Meta has a habit of sending everything they could possibly ever get incase someone wants to buy it. Although I could see them using that for BI purposes to be like X Users were wearing headphones on these types of posts, but that may be giving them too much credit.

[-] dan@upvote.au 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

No - DuckDuckGo blocks the app from getting the data. It doesn't know if that particular data is being sent over the internet or not. Seeing headphone status in its list just means the app tried to check the headphone status, not that it tried to send it anywhere.

[-] Anticorp@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

Determine if you're a candidate for headphone ads.

[-] BlackPenguins@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

Could just be another piece of data that can build a more unique fingerprint for you.

this post was submitted on 06 Jul 2023
2317 points (97.5% liked)

Technology

59080 readers
3541 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related content.
  3. Be excellent to each another!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS