Google disables iPhone app that studied users' digital habits

FILE PHOTO: The outside of the Google offices is seen in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., January 18, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo - Copyright Mike Segar(Reuters)

By Reuters

Published on 31/01/2019 - 00:34•Updated 27/04/2024 - 02:22

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SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's Google said on Wednesday it disabled an iPhone app that it had paid some users to install to study their digital habits, following a similar move late on Tuesday by social media network Facebook Inc.

Google and Facebook had faced criticism from privacy experts for distributing their research apps through a programme iPhone maker Apple Inc had created for companies to distribute apps to employees.

"The Screenwise Meter iOS app should not have operated under Apple’s developer enterprise program — this was a mistake, and we apologize," Google said in a statement.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

(Reporting by Paresh Dave; Editing by Bill Rigby)

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Google disables iPhone app that studied users' digital habits

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