Is Truecaller a lifesaver? Yes, it helps you to get rid of spam calls📞
But, think again!
Truecaller doesn't care about your privacy🤯
But, think again!
Truecaller doesn't care about your privacy🤯
Truecaller earns over 70% of its revenues from India.
A recent report revealed how brutally the app invades the privacy of over millions of users in India.
A recent report revealed how brutally the app invades the privacy of over millions of users in India.
First, Truecaller seeks permission to access your phonebook.
Now as soon as you grant permission, it has data of all of your contacts.
Now as soon as you grant permission, it has data of all of your contacts.
You gave consent, but what about the people in your phonebook who didn't?
Yet, their information is with Truecaller now.
Yet, their information is with Truecaller now.
Imagine - you neither gave consent nor downloaded Truecaller, but still it has access to your data.
Just because someone who had your contact, signed away your privacy rights when they installed Truecaller.
But, how does Play Store allow such app on its platform?
Just because someone who had your contact, signed away your privacy rights when they installed Truecaller.
But, how does Play Store allow such app on its platform?
Well, it doesn't.
But Truecaller uses a couple of tricks here to bypass the Play Store policies
1) It deals with phone manufacturers to pre-install the app
2) It pushes users to sign up with web browsers
But Truecaller uses a couple of tricks here to bypass the Play Store policies
1) It deals with phone manufacturers to pre-install the app
2) It pushes users to sign up with web browsers
The end result?
While it only has 300 million monthly active users in, it has a database of a staggering 5.7 billion contacts!
While it only has 300 million monthly active users in, it has a database of a staggering 5.7 billion contacts!
And it gets worse…
Another report revealed how the 'Enhanced Search' feature was auto-checked whenever a phone came pre-installed with Truecaller.
Another report revealed how the 'Enhanced Search' feature was auto-checked whenever a phone came pre-installed with Truecaller.
That meant users automatically shared everything with Truecaller– names, numbers, emails, etc.
The report also found that this feature was auto-checked on the signup screen for new users in India.
The report also found that this feature was auto-checked on the signup screen for new users in India.
Next, Truecaller has access to your phonebook and also to your SMS inbox.
Truecaller builds financial profiles by accessing high priority messages like OTPs & transactions.
Truecaller builds financial profiles by accessing high priority messages like OTPs & transactions.
Truecaller already has a short-term loan facility up to Rs 5 lakh for its users without much paperwork
This ability to scan SMS allows Truecaller to offer you loans when your bank balance is low.
This ability to scan SMS allows Truecaller to offer you loans when your bank balance is low.
On an ending note!
Truecaller's success in India solely depends on data collected without consent.
The government has been delaying a comprehensive data protection bill for the past 3 years.
Truecaller's success in India solely depends on data collected without consent.
The government has been delaying a comprehensive data protection bill for the past 3 years.
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