Hot on the heels of Facebook's research app scandal this week, which saw it inappropriately target users and extract data, Google has now apologised for also running a data gathering app.
Yesterday, TechCrunch revealed that Facebook has been operating a research VPN, called Facebook Research App, that pays 13-35 year olds up to US$20 a month to install a tool. The tool allows the social media giant to gather all phone and web activity.
Soon after the revelations, Google was discovered to have been using a similar app called Screenwise Meter.
According to the report, under an enterprise agreement with Apple, using paid external testers is forbidden.
Both platforms have promised to shut the apps down.
"The Screenwise Meter iOS app should not have operated under Apple’s developer enterprise program — this was a mistake, and we apologise,” a Google spokesperson said.
“We have disabled this app on iOS devices. This app is completely voluntary and always has been. We’ve been upfront with users about the way we use their data in this app, we have no access to encrypted data in apps and on devices, and users can opt out of the program at any time.”
Soon after the investigation by TechCrunch, Facebook said it would shut down the app, however Apple got ahead of the issue and blocked it, saying it violated its policies.
However, Facebook said key facts about the “market research programme” are being ignored.
“Despite early reports, there was nothing 'secret' about this; it was literally called the Facebook Research App,” a Facebook spokesperson said.
“It wasn't 'spying' as all of the people who signed up to participate went through a clear on-boarding process asking for their permission and were paid to participate.
"Finally, less than 5% of the people who chose to participate in this market research program were teens. All of them with signed parental consent forms.”
The news comes as both players are mired by privacy concerns, with Google recently being fined $79 million for breaching GDPR laws.
Facebook and Google are also part of an ACCC inquiry in Australia that's looking into digital media's impact on journalism. The final report is expected to be released in June by the watchdog.
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