Saw this, checked and it's there

[Allinadaystwerk]

Not sure how I feel about having this download on my phone without my permission. How about you?

Yeah I have it. Seems quite useful, don't see the problem!

''@WinnieWonder - I'm not British though.''

And this part was tongue in cheek, like, I'll put my hand up to anything at all being a dick, below average, but .... have to correct you on the nationality

[quote WinnieWonder]''@WinnieWonder - I'm not British though.''

And this part was tongue in cheek, like, I'll put my hand up to anything at all being a dick, below average, but .... have to correct you on the nationality [/quote]
Good to see the national pride coming out.

Do people realise that Apple/Google do this kind of thing with every update? That's what updates are, they update your phone's capabilities.

If they wanted to track you secretly, they wouldn't be adding a setting that you can turn off. They'd just not mention it. The fact that you can see this setting, right there, on your screen suggests that it's not all that secret or mysterious.

If they wanted to track you secretly, they wouldn't be adding a setting that you can turn off. They'd just not mention it. The fact that you can see this setting, right there, on your screen suggests that it's not all that secret or mysterious.

That's what they want you to think.....

This thread has been a ray of sunshine in the tedium that is lockdown. I’m pretty cross now though, as I’m an insomniac, it’s 3 am and I’m laughing so much that I’ll never get to sleep.

Am thinking this thread has a way to run though as there must be several million Mumsnet users who haven’t posted yet to say that shock/horror they have/haven’t got this on their phone. I think we could give the Anti Dementors a run for their money...

This thread is comedy gold!!

Why can't people understand that it is NOT an app? It is purely the framework which would allow one to work when it becomes available, IF you decide to download it.

If you don't decide to download the app then l it will never, ever do anything.

Lets not let that get in the way of a good old conspiracy theory though.

@MRex

Does anyone else feel like suggesting that people reset to factory settings, just for the shits and giggles?

Butbutbut - won't the updated OS still be in place, which means that the Narsty Tracker Facilitator™ will still be on it??

@ThumbWitchesAbroad - only if the phone was bought in the last month with an updated operating system, otherwise the old operating system will remain pure. All photos, contacts and other data will be wiped, but that's a small price to pay for security. The additional step of turning off Mobile Data and Wi-Fi will keep the phone pristine, just as it was made.

Perhaps the smart phone will become a domestic gadget for people who are that worried?

They could vary a brick phone, camera and notebook for when they are out and about.

I have really enjoyed this thread. But am also wondering if those who find this software capability too intrusive really understand their phone settings, and what data they might have consented to share without realising. Ditto for apps (I mean actual apps, which might have accessed all sorts of other things, not this update)

I'm loving this thread. I am yet again glad that I don't have a smartphone. The hysteria about them is far more contagious than Covid.

I think everyone's getting worked up about the wrong thing.

The real crime is the government wasting £120m on the frigging app that doesn't even work and giving the contract to Dom's mate without any bidding when Apple and google could have done faster and better for free.

As has been proven by them rolling out this update to our operating systems.

I can't remember when Apple and Google said they were bringing out the app.

If the British bespoke version was underway before that, then fair enough that they tried. But once it was known, and certainly once formally announced, the decision makers should have heeded the sunk cost fallacy and commissioned a thorough re-evaluation of options.

I think we couid have switched at least 2-3 weeks earlier

@passthemustard

I think everyone's getting worked up about the wrong thing.

The real crime is the government wasting £120m on the frigging app that doesn't even work and giving the contract to Dom's mate without any bidding when Apple and google could have done faster and better for free.

As has been proven by them rolling out this update to our operating systems.

This!

Oh dear lord. IT ISN'T AN APP, IT'S AN API FOR AN APP TO USE!! The government still needs an app. The government's app issue is making things work within restrictions that Apple confirmed AFTER the government published it's intended approach and working around the location problem. I don't know if they picked the right supplier or not, frankly I don't care, but this sort of issue is fairly typical of any time people try to get new technology to work on multiple platforms, in particular apple/ android mobile devices. It you don't even know the difference between an APP and an API then you can't realistically give an opinion.

*its not it's, that was my phone's auto-incorrect

Waahh. It's not on my phone yet ... Big Brother has rejected me ( or is that what They want me to think ??).

OMFG - how do people get through life with such an appalling lack of comprehension?

Maybe you should all lock your phones in a lead lined box and drop it into the sea.

I find it's far more effective to keep my phone in a faraday box, and then keep that box in a bigger faraday box. Rinse and repeat until the box is as big as your dedicated faraday room, then keep that box in that room for eternity, or until you need to use your phone to enter a radio competition (where you'll then use the winnings to buy a new faraday box).

@WhatCFeryIsThis

You have to download the app for it to be active!!!!

@CeCeDrake - You have to download the app for it to be active!!!! hmm

Really? Thanks for letting us know. We were very confused.

It's on mine.

@Bubbletrouble43

It's on mine.

Never!

Anyone else also had the shiny new 'feature for Facebook' update downloaded via their relevant app store? My update happened when I switched on WiFi today, very brief, I'd have missed the notification if I'd have blinked.

The notification simply said what I've put in inverted commas above. Checking the recently updated apps gives nothing away, as shown in image.

I have automatic updates switched off in Play Store btw.