To consider this request beyond unreasonable?

[luckylucky24]

DH has just text me to say his work have asked him to install an app that gives them access to his photos, browsing data and location.
His phones is full of pictures of our kids, some in the bath etc. This aside I feel this is a huge invasion of privacy. Surely the don't have a leg to stand on? Can they enforce this?

[toffeeboffin]

Guess it depends where he works?

[TheFlis12345]

Is it a work phone or his personal one?

[LurkingHusband]

Whose phone is it ?

[msrisotto]

Why do they want it? Is it a work phone is his personal one?

[EssentialHummus]

Depends on his job, as toffee said. If this was me I'd get a second mobile phone for work to monitor, and keep private stuff private.

[littlewoollypervert]

Is it his own personal phone?

If yes, I'd tell them they are totally free to request that he install the app but it has to be on a phone that they buy for him and pay the bills for. If they go ahead with that, then he can keep the two phones separate.

[ILoveMyMonkey]

Is it a work phone? If it is then they probably can enforce it and I would delete all personal stuff before loading the app.

If it is a private phone then I don't see how they can make him have the app and I'd be reluctant to install it.

[troodiedoo]

Many apps require those permissions to install don't they? I would think technically he could refuse unless work have provided the phone.

[MarcelineTheVampire]

If it's a work mobile then yes, thy have every right. If a personal mobile then no- he would have to ask them to supply him with a works mobile.

[ChicRock]

If it's a work phone (and even in some instances, if it's his own private phone but used for work purposes) and his employers can demonstrate a valid reason for doing this, then yes they can.

[luckylucky24]

It is his personal phone. They do not provide work phones.

[silkybear]

We had this recently, refused on the grounds my phone is for personal use and used for online banking ect, so they will have to provide us with a work mobile if they want us to use the app. Unsecure apps give hackers a back door into your phone so you have the right to refuse. All went quiet after that as many of us said no.

[Pinkheart5915]

Is it a phone work provided they want access too? If work have provided the phone I don't see an issue tbh

If it's a personal phone that he paid for himself, I'd refuses access unless he works in an industry that is top security and has worry of people stealing important data on mobiles

[CMOTDibbler]

If its a work phone, or used for work under BYOD, then they can do this. He just needs to delete photos from it (I'd reformat first) and then get a personal phone as well.

If its purely a personal phone, then don't take it to work and don't install the app

[luckylucky24]

And he works in an office so no need for contact outside work other than the fact that they have no respect for personal boundaries and constantly harass him when he is off sick/on leave.

[ThatsNotMyMummy]

Id go and buy a nokia and tell them thats my phone.

[sparechange]

Does the app actually give them access to all those things?

Or is it an app that requires him to give permissions for it to access those in order for it to work properly?
For example, an app that manages expenses and lets you upload photos of receipts and the location of the restaurant or hotel?
It would require him to give access to those areas of his phone but it doesn't mean anyone at the company can or will browse through his photos on their lunch break...

[MarcelineTheVampire]

If it's not a works mobile he can refuse and I would. As pp said, unsecured apps can cause havoc - absolutely if he uses phone for banking etc. I would just put in writing that he will install app when thy provide a works mobile to do so.

[AaoograhaHoa]

Yup - Agree with Skilybear - if they want access then they need to provide your DH with a work phone.

Unless there are very exceptional circumstances e.g. they pay for work calls he make using his personal phone and have some kind of agreement with him, then it should be fairly straightforward for him to be able to refuse.

[Binglesplodge]

This is horrifying. Why on earth would they have reason to want access to his browsing data, personal photographs, social media etc? As long as he's doing his job what on earth is it to them what he uses his own phone for on his own time? It's a creepy request.

[AtrociousCircumstance]

Fuck that.

[LizzieMacQueen]

Is he often off sick?

I would wonder that they trying to catch him out.

[CottonSock]

No way

[luckylucky24]

No Lizzie, rarely off sick.

They are saying it is a new app for their email system but if you read the app description it gives them access to everything.