ISSUE 71 • ANDROID ADVISOR 11watchdog, the Ring app on Android is “packed
with third-party trackers sending out a plethora
of customers’ personally identifiable information”.
In its study, EFF found four main analytics and
marketing companies – Branch, Mixpanel, AppsFlyer,
and Facebook – to be on the receiving end of Ring’s
data, which includes such information as screen
resolution, names and email addresses. EFF notes
that all of the data they monitored was sent using
encrypted HTTPS and “was delivered in a way that
eludes analysis”.
The organization used a Ring Video Doorbell
and a Nexus 5X running Android Oreo to conduct
its testing. The app has since been updated from
version 3.21.1 to 3.22.1, but it’s unclear whether the
activity of the trackers was changed.
In a statement, Ring spokesperson admitted to
the use of the trackers but downplayed the risk.
“Like many companies, Ring uses third-party service
providers to evaluate the use of our mobile app,
which helps us improve features, optimize the
customer experience and evaluate the effectiveness
of our marketing. Ring ensures that service providers’
use of the data provided is contractually limited
to appropriate purposes such as performing these
services on our behalf and not for other purposes.”
Ring’s Privacy Notice uses the catch-all “with your
consent” when discussing when personal information
is shared, but also notes that, “We do not authorize
our service providers to use or disclose your personal
information except as necessary to perform services
on our behalf or comply with legal requirements.” EFF