Your Phone’s Secret Life: What We Uncovered About 5 Viral Surveillance Myths
According to Microsoft, some hacking signs on laptops, for example, might include a flickering or illuminated camera indicator light, unfamiliar files, malware, or compromised security settings.
It’s also important to read the fine print when activating an app or device.
“We always advise users to review the privacy permissions on their devices to ensure no apps are accessing important features like the camera, microphone, or location without their knowledge,” an EFF spokesperson told Stacker, noting that people can do this on both Android and Apple devices.
Who has access to the data my devices collect?
Data collected by a user’s device can be accessed by several sources, depending on the type of data and permissions granted. Apple, for example, says it uses personal data to “power our services, to process your transactions, to communicate with you, for security and fraud prevention, and to comply with law,” among other purposes.
In December 2024, Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit that alleged it sent data recorded by Siri without consent to third parties. Just over a week later, the company stated it never used Siri data for marketing or advertising purposes and “never sold it to anyone for any purpose.”
Does searching in incognito mode protect against surveillance?
Surfing the internet in incognito or private mode keeps your device’s browsing history secret, which can be helpful for searches on sensitive topics or when using a shared computer. However, it doesn’t stop a user’s internet service provider from tracking which websites they visit or seeing their location, according to the Mozilla Foundation.
To make it more difficult for data brokers to collect information, users can disable ad ID tracking on their devices or use a search engine like DuckDuckGo, which asserts, “We don’t track you. Ever.”
Can my biometric information be used against me?
Governments and companies increasingly use biometric data, including fingerprints, iris scans, and facial images, but it poses risks to consumers. The Federal Trade Commission warned that such data could reveal sensitive information and attract malicious actors.
States are taking a stand. In 2022, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging it used facial geometry data and other biometrics without consent. The suit resulted in a $1.4 billion settlement in 2024—the first enforcement of the state’s biometric data protection law. Illinois and California have also enacted laws that regulate the collection of biometric data and protect consumers’ rights.
Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.
