Shady Flashlight App Keeps Millions of Users in the Dark

Goldenshores Technologies, makers of the “Brightest Flashlight Free” Android app, faced legal action from the FTC for deceiving users about its data sharing practices. The app failed to disclose in its privacy policy that it was transmitting precise location information and unique device identifiers to advertisers and other third parties. What’s worse, the app made a pretense of allowing users to opt out of sharing but then proceeded to share their information anyway. Goldenshores was lambasted in the press and the FTC eventually ordered the app-maker to clarify its practices for users and delete all user information in its possession.

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