Once again, Zuckerberg shows he doesn't care about users' privacy
Once again, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is trying his dirty tricks, unabashedly so. Our privacy just doesn't matter to him. In the latest development, Samsung devices (running Android 8.0 Oreo) do not list Facebook-developed apps like Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram on the App Permission Monitor. In essence, it means the users aren't informed if these apps are trying to access certain permissions in the background. Here's more.
Firstly, what is the App Permission Monitor?
For those unaware, Samsung introduced its exclusive App Permission Monitor feature when it adopted Android 8.0 Oreo for its devices. The monitor notifies a user if an app is trying to access resources, sensors or permissions as background processes.
The problem seems to be with Facebook-developed apps
Varied sources have indicated issues with multiple apps, but the common factor seems to be Facebook-centric - Facebook's own app, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp were reported to be slipping past Samsung's monitor. While the absence of these apps on the monitor might not seem like a big deal, it implies that these apps might be gaining access to certain permissions without your explicit knowledge.
What is causing the anomaly isn't known yet
As of now, it's unclear as to what is causing the anomaly. However, there's a suspicion among users and analysts that the anomaly has something to do with the Facebook app (which has slipped past Samsung's monitor the most) being a pre-installed app on some Samsung phones and therefore, being treated differently. Meanwhile, Samsung has yet to give an official explanation on the anomaly.
What you can do to ensure privacy
While not showing up on the App Permission Monitor doesn't necessarily mean that the aforementioned apps are accessing permissions in the background, you might still want to ensure your privacy. Thankfully, you can head over to the Apps menu, select an app, and tap on Permissions to review their access. This works for all apps, regardless of whether they're pre-installed or not.
