iPhone Apps: Number Farming Found in Vampires Live
Wednesday 18 November 2009 @ 3:52 am | By SolWith yesterday’s iPhone post listing some merits of game development, there is a seedier side to owning what amounts to a GPS handheld computer wherever you go. A lawsuit has been filed with Studio8, makers of the popular Vampires Live, Ninjas Live, Racing Live, and a number of other (insert noun) Live games. The suit alleges Strom8 knowingly inserted an electronic backdoor to farm phone numbers from downloaders.
Is it all worth the fervor? Some would say no, I mean everyone has access to your telephone right? You give your number to universities, pizza chains, and a number of other businesses. Whether it be an error in judgement, although Storm8 notes it’s a bug, the point of contention for me is a privacy issue. As a business decision recording phone numbers may be a way just to track who is downloading it, but as a marketing decision I see a way to profit by selling my private information to 3rd parties. If you take my information tell me. If I find out later you’ve done it secretly, I’ll be none too pleased. Wouldn’t you be upset if Domino’s and PizzaHut sold your information and home address to telemarketers or am I just being crazy?







