Blu, Amazon Tussle Over Smartphone Privacy Issues

[Guest]

Blu phones "actively transmitted user and device information including the full-body of text messages, contact lists, call history with full telephone numbers," and other personally identifiable information, the Kryptowire security company said.

Blu, Amazon Tussle Over Smartphone Privacy Issues : Read more

 

[InvalidError]

I was tempted to get a BLU XL2 but I suspected that inexpensive phones with interesting specs would come at a hidden price. Maybe later when 3rd-party firmware becomes available.

 

[Brian_227]

I just got a BLU XL2 a few months ago. Fantastic phone for a dirt cheap price. The privacy thing sucks, but I don't really care if China can see what I'm texting to my friends, none of it is really private anyways.

 

[sykozis]

I find it laughable that Amazon claims to be concerned with the "security and privacy" of it's customers considering the Echo has the ability to record and transmit everything that's said within range of it's microphone back to Amazon...which is an invasion of privacy itself. I guess Amazon wants to be the only company invading the privacy of their "customers"....

 

[BryanFRitt]

Every company(not just Amazon) 'wants to be the only company invading the privacy of their "customers"....'.

 

[Olle P]

The reply from Blu that the current version has "data collection that pose no security or privacy risk" is laughable.
I think it's more correct to state that the risks involved are not significantly greater than if you use any of the more mainstream smartphones that have Apple or Google track your every move.

My best guess would be that the gathering of data is less sensitive with Blu, but the risk of mis-use might be a bit higher.