Uber uses data-mining to identify and block riders who may be cops, investigators or regulators

Okay, let’s see what permissions their app wants. Android version:

This app has access to:
Identity

find accounts on the device
add or remove accounts
read your own contact card

Contacts

find accounts on the device
read your contacts

Location

approximate location (network-based)
precise location (GPS and network-based)

SMS

read your text messages (SMS or MMS)
receive text messages (SMS)
send SMS messages

Phone

directly call phone numbers
read phone status and identity

Photos/Media/Files

read the contents of your USB storage
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage

Storage

read the contents of your USB storage
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage

Camera

take pictures and videos

Wi-Fi connection information

view Wi-Fi connections

Device ID & call information

read phone status and identity

Other

receive data from Internet
view network connections
pair with Bluetooth devices
access Bluetooth settings
full network access
run at startup
use accounts on the device
control vibration
prevent device from sleeping
modify system settings
read Google service configuration

Hmm. A lot of these, any app will need for basic stuff, but … take pictures and videos? Access all your files?

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