Why does Apple even let apps read my phone model and battery level?
this post was submitted on 08 Aug 2025
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California May Ban Lyft And Uber From AI Price Gouging Users With Low Phone Batteries
(www.jalopnik.com)
Because they pay apple? I'd imagine that's obvious. It's more useful metrics for the developer. I would be surprised if they didn't tier the information access about users behind closed doors.
Android's not perfect, but at least permissions can be set per app, you can root your device, or install GrapheneOS or Lineage to bypass this crap entirely.
I'd rather the ability to fudge these stats to developers, cause my info is none of their damn business when I'm paying for a service.
That can be done on android and other operating systems. Apple is always the SOL option when it comes to dodging this crap.
I know it's in there somewhere, it's the time sink of yet another rabbit hole of searching and research. I'm tired boss.
The future is now, old man. Been dealing with this my entire life.
some permissions can be set per app. I'm not sure battery level is one of those and I have apps (i.e. homeassistant) which can read thatwithout me actually having explicitly allowed it. Usually it's stuff one pictures/files, location, camera or health data that are restricted
Last I checked Uber can be used from the browser. Not the most user friendly though
In a way I think that expectation should be normal. What really shouldn't be normal is for everything to be an app, and not a website.
Windows Phone almost got this right - trying to focus more on HTML5 Manifest features and better browser/pinning integration, so that a company like Lyft can offer its full feature set through a website that works on all phones. Then, we could rely on the fact that we only need install a few apps that we trust.
That's just evil. Next they're going to look into your calendar to see if you're running late.
No, next they're going to reveal they've been mining your calendar data this whole time after a data breach forces them to admit it.
May? That already sounds like it’s illegal.
Laws only apply to people who havd under $10m.
Easy! I haven't gone out for coffee for a couple of years now, so I should definitely....
Checks bank account
Oh no
I'll be damned if I'm cutting back on avocado toast
The article doesn't say they do this. It says: "In theory, a service could charge you more if you're on a vacation in a foreign country, instead of your hometown, because they know you would be willing to pay more. It would be the same if your phone's battery is low and you're trying to get home."
A really bad headline, but not surprising I guess.
Its called clickbait and Jalopnik is a piece of shit site anyway.
If Lyft and Uber are doing this then I genuinely applaud them. That's astounding ingenuity in screwing over their customers. True innovators.
The people making the big bucks in Silicon Valley are often the people really good at understanding psychology and manipulating people’s behavior.
I honestly would have never thought of this either. I’m one of those traditional losers who thinks providing a good value/service at a sustainable margin is a good way to run a business.
Good way to run a long term business, sure. Good way to win at capitalism, no.
Meh. Facebook serves beauty ads to female teens that recently deleted selfies.
That's a thing? Can they also tell that I'm in a shady neighborhood?
I mean, they absolutely could and it would be absolutely trivial to compare a database of crime rates to your departure location. The question should really be "Are they checking if I'm in a shady neighborhood?"
Don't even need to compare. Just putting something like zip-9 / location into a machine learning model and it will do it for you. Just using advanced models to reinforce redlining
I never even considered that this was being done. Thankfully I rarely use those services.
Uninstalled uber last week when it told me to take a photo of my ID to ride. Next week I'll hear about some Brazilian hacker that has 100 million US IDs from an uber leak. No thanks. Lyft will probably do the same thing soon, and I'll unceremoniously dump their ass too.
"Brazil" 💀
🎵 Where hearts were entertaining June 🎶
they should stop at 'from' and just ban them completely
I've stopped using both soon after the pandemic. I can call a taxi if I really need it.
if battery < 10:
price = price * 2
Many AI. Much wow.
Look, does it really matter whether they do or not? If a company is morally bankrupt enough to conduct business like this in the first place, it's a certainty they'll just find some other novel way to be flaming assholes.
If you don't want to get cheated, stop doing business with thieves and liars.
Personally, I’d rather have a robust and up-to-date set of consumer protections rather than leaving everything up to ‘buyer beware’.
That would be ideal of course, but this is the US we're talking about, so it seems unlikely that you'll have them.
They should just lie down and give up then I guess?
Just transfer every cent they own into the hands of the Trumps/Musks/Cooks/Zuckerbergs/Bezos/Pichais of the world and get it over with, why bother trying?
I'm suggesting they should refuse to use the services of companies that act like this.
It also seems unlikely that you'll find any businesses who aren't being liars and cheats here.
Did they ban AI from using commas in post subjects?
Did they ban AI from using proper titling case?
The answer is no, and this may be one way in which AI should be allowed to displace humans Who Write Titles By Capitalising Every Word Even The Ones Which Should Not Be.
I learned how to title in elementary school, because, ya know, it's pretty damned elementary.
Y'all gotta stop buying Apple shit
Nowhere in the article or the original report does it say this is specific to Apple devices.
Yeah, but you can't circumvent this on iOS. It's incredibly easy to spoof information on android.
Still, it's good advice.