They’re more than just communication devices – they’re hubs for our personal data, holding everything from snapshots of our lives to bank details and text chains. With so much sensitive information in the palm of our hands, it’s only natural to wonder: are our smartphones spying on us?
Data Privacy Week is a great time to look at how these devices can collect, track, and sometimes use our data in ways we might not fully understand, want, or even consent to.
As technology has evolved, so has the sophistication of the data collection methods embedded in our smartphones. Most of us probably don’t realize just how much data our phones are silently gathering in the background. Keep reading, and I’ll dig into what information our phones gobble up – and how you can put a stop to it.
Is your smartphone spying on you, really?
The short answer? Yes, your smartphone is probably spying on you. While you may assume that these devices only collect basic data, like phone calls and text messages, the reality is far more invasive.
Smartphones constantly gather data, even when you’re not actively using them, through sensors, apps, and background processes.
This collection process is usually intended to improve the user experience, but it can be unsettling to realize just how much personal information is being quietly gathered without your explicit consent.
Still, how deep does the tracking go? Your phone knows a surprising amount about you. Here are some of the most worrying pieces of information your smartphone collects:
Where you are
GPS, Wi-Fi networks, and cellular towers combine to track your whereabouts with startling accuracy. Sure, this is convenient when you’re using maps for directions or checking the weather, but the same technology can also follow you wherever you go – at a protest, a doctor’s office, or a date with someone new.
Smartphones store this data, and while some of it is used for benign purposes (like suggesting nearby restaurants or displaying targeted ads based on your location), it can (and sometimes is by legal and illegal entities) be used for surveillance.
If this information falls into the wrong hands, it could reveal highly sensitive details about your movements and habits to parties that you’d rather not share it with.
Your activity
This kind of moment-to-moment data can reveal a lot about your habits, preferences, and even your lifestyle.
For example, fitness apps track your steps, heart rate, and sleep patterns. While this data can be useful for personal health monitoring, it also has value to advertisers and third parties who can use it to create detailed profiles. Worse still, hackers could exploit vulnerabilities in-app security and use the data to launch harassment and stalking campaigns.
Knowing how long you spend on certain apps (like dating or shopping apps) or what kind of entertainment you consume can help create hyper-targeted advertisements. This may seem harmless at first, but can quickly feel invasive when every aspect of your day-to-day activity is commodified.
Sensitive personal information
For example, dating apps give your phone access to deeply personal information like your sexual orientation, relationship preferences, and even medical details, such as HIV status.
Similarly, apps that track religion, politics, or personal beliefs can share this data with third parties, who may target you with ads that reveal more about your private life than you might be comfortable with.
Plus, if your data were exposed in a breach, it could be used for identity theft or exploitation.
Imagine the implications of someone finding out about your sexual preferences or religious beliefs through targeted ads, without your consent.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Details about your health
Take the example of a woman using a period tracker: if she logs a missed period, this could signal pregnancy, and she might suddenly be flooded with ads for baby products. If she’s using a shared device, well, this could prompt a lot of sensitive conversations she may not be ready to have.
What if details about your mental health are sold to advertisers, or worse, used to manipulate your behavior?
Consider the implications of searches related to mental health issues, too, such as anxiety or depression. What if this information is sold to advertisers, or worse, used to manipulate your behavior or send targeted messages designed to make you feel more vulnerable?
When it comes to health data, privacy is not just an issue for the individual, but for society at large. With the rise of wearable health devices, this information is more available than ever, making it critical that consumers understand who has access to their data and how it’s being used.
Siri (and other digital assistants)
Have you ever thought about how much of your private life these assistants are privy to? Digital assistants are designed to make life easier – they’re always on standby, listening for commands.
Sometimes, it’s more than just the commands they’re picking up on – your phone may be recording your conversations in the background.
Apple, for example, faced backlash when it was revealed that contractors had been listening to recordings of users’ interactions with Siri, including sensitive conversations about personal health or social dilemmas. Even though Apple later introduced privacy changes (and paid a sizable settlement), the fact remains that voice data can be a goldmine for advertisers or even malicious actors.
While it’s convenient to ask Siri about the weather or the latest news, it’s crucial to realize that this technology may not be as private as you think. And if you’re discussing sensitive matters, like health or personal issues, you may want to be more cautious about what you say to your digital assistant.
How to prevent smartphone spying
Smartphones are undeniably powerful tools, but they come with significant privacy risks. As Data Privacy Week reminds us, we need to be more aware of the data we’re sharing and how it’s being used.
Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take to minimize just how much your smartphone hears, sees, and, well, spies.
1. Adjust which apps have access to your camera and mic:
Open up the settings menu and find “Security & privacy”
Tap “Privacy”, then “View all permissions”
From here, you can select the camera or microphone to see which apps have access – and prune any unwanted snoops
iOS
From the settings menu, tap on “Privacy & security”
Then, select either camera or microphone
You’ll see a list of apps with access – and have the option to deny access with a tap
2. Review app permissions
Via the settings menu, select “Apps”
Select an app, then “Permissions”, and take a look at what the app has access to
Click “Allow” or “Don’t allow” depending on your preferences
iOS
Head to the settings menu and select “Privacy”
Then, hit “Microphone” or “Camera” to restrict access
You’ll have the option to toggle permissions on an app-by-app basis
3. Use a VPN most secure VPNs encrypt all your traffic as it leaves your device and heads onto the web. This makes it much harder for apps, sites, and third parties to keep tabs on what you do.
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