California May Ban Lyft And Uber From AI Price Gouging Users With Low Phone Batteries (www.jalopnik.com)
from return2ozma@lemmy.world to technology@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 04:34
https://lemmy.world/post/34120682

#technology

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MisterMoo@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 04:54 next collapse

Why does Apple even let apps read my phone model and battery level?

Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Aug 05:06 next collapse

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.

bobs_monkey@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 05:14 next collapse

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.

Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Aug 05:25 collapse

That can be done on android and other operating systems. Apple is always the SOL option when it comes to dodging this crap.

bobs_monkey@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 05:37 collapse

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.

Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Aug 05:43 collapse

The future is now, old man. Been dealing with this my entire life.

phx@lemmy.ca on 08 Aug 16:23 collapse

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

yonderbarn@lazysoci.al on 08 Aug 18:11 next collapse

Last I checked Uber can be used from the browser. Not the most user friendly though

Katana314@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 20:19 collapse

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.

CobraChicken3000@lemmy.ca on 08 Aug 06:00 next collapse

That’s a thing? Can they also tell that I’m in a shady neighborhood?

JustARegularNerd@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 08 Aug 07:26 collapse

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?”

dumples@midwest.social on 08 Aug 19:44 collapse

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

pineapple_pizza@lemmy.dexlit.xyz on 08 Aug 06:05 next collapse

That’s just evil. Next they’re going to look into your calendar to see if you’re running late.

Coldcell@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 10:34 collapse

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.

BetaBlake@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 07:36 next collapse

Y’all gotta stop buying Apple shit

MurrayL@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 07:58 collapse

Nowhere in the article or the original report does it say this is specific to Apple devices.

Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Aug 08:27 next collapse

Yeah, but you can’t circumvent this on iOS. It’s incredibly easy to spoof information on android.

WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 16:41 collapse

Still, it’s good advice.

Dojan@pawb.social on 08 Aug 09:31 next collapse

May? That already sounds like it’s illegal.

defaultusername@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 08 Aug 12:28 collapse

Laws only apply to people who have under $10m.

Atropos@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 14:55 next collapse

Easy! I haven’t gone out for coffee for a couple of years now, so I should definitely…

Checks bank account

Oh no

surewhynotlem@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 16:29 collapse

I’ll be damned if I’m cutting back on avocado toast

jaybone@lemmy.zip on 08 Aug 09:58 next collapse

Did they ban AI from using commas in post subjects?

FishFace@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 11:39 collapse

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.

shalafi@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 17:41 collapse

I learned how to title in elementary school, because, ya know, it’s pretty damned elementary.

xxce2AAb@feddit.dk on 08 Aug 10:12 next collapse

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.

MurrayL@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 13:12 collapse

Personally, I’d rather have a robust and up-to-date set of consumer protections rather than leaving everything up to ‘buyer beware’.

xxce2AAb@feddit.dk on 08 Aug 13:40 collapse

That would be ideal of course, but this is the US we’re talking about, so it seems unlikely that you’ll have them.

Zombie@feddit.uk on 08 Aug 16:02 next collapse

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?

xxce2AAb@feddit.dk on 08 Aug 20:08 collapse

I’m suggesting they should refuse to use the services of companies that act like this.

SpacetimeMachine@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 18:36 collapse

It also seems unlikely that you’ll find any businesses who aren’t being liars and cheats here.

kimara@sopuli.xyz on 08 Aug 10:47 next collapse

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.

blargh513@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 18:57 collapse

Its called clickbait and Jalopnik is a piece of shit site anyway.

cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone on 08 Aug 10:52 next collapse

they should stop at 'from' and just ban them completely

yonderbarn@lazysoci.al on 08 Aug 18:15 next collapse

I’ve stopped using both soon after the pandemic. I can call a taxi if I really need it.

pharceface@retrolemmy.com on 08 Aug 18:26 next collapse

I never even considered that this was being done. Thankfully I rarely use those services.

Glitterbomb@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 19:05 collapse

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.

lemmyknow@lemmy.today on 08 Aug 19:17 collapse

“Brazil” 💀

Klear@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 20:13 collapse

🎵 Where hearts were entertaining June 🎶

barfplanet@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 19:21 next collapse

If Lyft and Uber are doing this then I genuinely applaud them. That’s astounding ingenuity in screwing over their customers. True innovators.

BigDiction@lemmy.world on 08 Aug 20:26 next collapse

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.

piranhaconda@mander.xyz on 08 Aug 22:46 collapse

Good way to run a long term business, sure. Good way to win at capitalism, no.

stevedice@sh.itjust.works on 08 Aug 22:40 collapse

Meh. Facebook serves beauty ads to female teens that recently deleted selfies.

xodoh74984@lemmy.world on 09 Aug 02:40 collapse

if battery < 10:
  price = price * 2

Many AI. Much wow.