this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2024
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AssholeDesign

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/16216017

My grocery store wants to know my BMI

If they were interested in my location they could request location data. What are the odds they are doing this to directly market products to people based on health data?

Inb4 “They already do that based on what you regularly purchase”

Of course, yes they do. This appears to be one more layer on top of it. And surely they wouldn’t share that information with the pharmacy, right?

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[–] edgemaster72@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

notify the store of your location

Um, my location is gonna be not in that fucking store

[–] Cold_Brew_Enema@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

"Hmm, your BMI seems a little high. Please exit the Twinky aisle immediately"

[–] pdxfed@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

You're consumer capitalism-ing wrong:

"Your BMI has been provided to us by your computer operating system Windows 12. We see you've selected several high sugar items in your shopping basket. We've automatically bundled a required Linked Product discount and added a free insulin starter kit, a book from an unsuccessful weight loss program, and a paid subscription to motivational podcasts from Hostess International. Please note, these subscriptions are set for a term of LIFE and will pass to your heirs as a liability thanks to the 2025 Consumer Freedom Act passed by convicted felon, rapist and second-term president Donald Trump's CPFB (Corporate Financial Protection Bureau) "

Your problems are something to maximize and profit from.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world -1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's a telemetry category. What ever OS that is does not do separate permissions, probably not to confuse tech-illiterate users.

Scummy of the OS? No. Stupid? Well, it's made for stupid people...

The app MIGHT want location just to limit items to what are actually locally available in your area and the like. Though with modern capitalism... Who's to say how many companies will see that information for no other reason than they want to own you...

[–] BowtiesAreCool@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This is iOS, if it was asking for location it would say location. This is specifically asking for health data like BMI, average heart rate if they wear an Apple Watch, steps etc.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world -1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

iOS ... ok that makes sense for the made for stupid people but... Does the application control the subtext of the permissions request? If location is NOT included in that category, then Apple has made a grave mistake of allowing app makers to openly lie to users...

BTW, a mismatch in permissions could be because the app was made with a common build tool that doesn't understand (or maybe the app developer themselves failed to understand) that it could request location by itself.

... Or they really are trying to harvest more info than they want to admit... but then I ask ... Why is it on Apple's closed app store if it's lying to users? (because Apple also doesn't care. they just want to appear to care)

[–] BowtiesAreCool@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The top comment in the thread this one is cross posted from has a plausible reason for it if it is an app and genuine

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world -1 points 2 months ago

I don't know how to check crossposts in this app.

[–] BowtiesAreCool@lemmy.world -1 points 2 months ago (2 children)

The prompts from iOS are usually generic, it looks like this just may be a custom prompt from a website, might even be an ad or fake link, luckily iOS locks down their phones in the browser so you can’t really have anything bad happen other than lots of tabs opening but you can just kill the app.

[–] AndrewZabar@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

No you’re confusing with Android. The iOS ones are rather specific and health data is health data. It’s certainly not trying to access location or contacts or Bluetooth etc. it’s quite specific.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The background does not look like a browser.

[–] AndrewZabar@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Yeah I’m fairly certain it’s the app. If it were Safari it would either say Safari is trying to… or it would say the website so there would be a domain named. I think it’s fairly conclusive this is the store’s app.