I think it's high time the host os takes responsibility for the privacy of sensitive things, such as contact lists and personal data.
One way could be to not return any identifiable information about others at all, but just a hash of each contact. (Kudos points if the host os returns a different hash for the same contact in different apps.) If that contact is known to the app, (because they've also installed it) then the app has all the information it needs to set up contact between two parties. The host os will probably need to provide a way to render a contact list for the app.
I'd be much happier with this arrangement. This way my personal data isn't uploaded to third parties simply because an acquaintance of mine wants to install some rubbish app. It's only if I install the same (rubbish) app will that third party finally get my personal info.
Host OS should also give me the power to determine what personal info it's given to any app. For instance, why did WhatsApp ever need my personal phone number while creating an account? It doesn't, and as such, should be regarded as an antitrust requirement.
You mean like Blackberry 10? The Android module would return privacy data to the apps back in 2013... I guess it wasn't that important, because noone bought it.
One way could be to not return any identifiable information about others at all, but just a hash of each contact. (Kudos points if the host os returns a different hash for the same contact in different apps.) If that contact is known to the app, (because they've also installed it) then the app has all the information it needs to set up contact between two parties. The host os will probably need to provide a way to render a contact list for the app.
I'd be much happier with this arrangement. This way my personal data isn't uploaded to third parties simply because an acquaintance of mine wants to install some rubbish app. It's only if I install the same (rubbish) app will that third party finally get my personal info.
Host OS should also give me the power to determine what personal info it's given to any app. For instance, why did WhatsApp ever need my personal phone number while creating an account? It doesn't, and as such, should be regarded as an antitrust requirement.