The point is that we, developers, haven't got the right to share or store your personal data. And don't want it too, because I would not have any app to do that with my own datas. Apple test the apps to prevent this kind of issues. For example when I sent the 1.03 update with the gift the app button, the release has been delayed for 4 days because I had to explain every technical aspects of this button sending you to the App Store... lol
I have been a big fan and supporter of Wawa from the beginning. I am also very appreciative of the updates and enhancements, especially the labor intensive retina update. Even though I beat all of the existing levels, I have been keeping Wawa on my phone in anticipation of the forthcoming level additions. With the latest update and the inclusion of Buzzdoes, however, I am now uncomfortable having the app on my phone. According to the privacy policy Buzzdoes begins collecting personal information including your unique device ID the moment it gets onto your phone. If you choose to utilize this function it will also gain access to your e-mail address, Facebook account including all of your posts and the identity of your social sphere, PayPal account, telephone contacts, and the identity and content of all of the Apps on your phone. Personally, I did not anticipate this potential level of data collection when I first obtained and played Wawa and consider its inclusion in the update a serious invasion of privacy. I love the game but like I said, I am now uncomfortable having it on my phone.
@retr0spective Yes I know that you supported the game so much, thank you very very much I can't tell you precisely what they do, so I emailed them, and when I will have an answer I will post it here The mail I sent: Hi Assaf, My players are concerned by the fact that Buzzdoes never ask the user to permit access to their contacts' list. By this I mean that they are kind of afraid of that issue. Will you fix that? By the way, Can you please, tell me what user's information do you access precisely? Best, Yann, Play Fripp Studio, Lyon, FR [email protected] / www.playfripp.com
@retr0spective I checked my Facebook privacy and BuzzDoes has only the permission to: Publish on my wall, send message to contacts. That's all.
BuzzDoes replied: Hi Yann, Buzzdoes only access the contact address book after pressing the Buzzdoes button. Buzzdoes does not use use this info and it is not sent to Buzzdoes server. Only if the user wishes to spread to his friends - that he needs to agree to the terms of use. If he does the emails that he sent recommendation to will be kept ( in order to be able to reward him later in case we see those friends downloading your app) In any case we do not use this info beside for the rewarding and it is only sent after the user accept the terms and never before. I hope it clear up things for your users. ( we have a strict privacy policy ) Best regards, Assaf, the Buzzdoes team ------------------------ Hope this will help
Hi Yann. My only concern is this: This isn't the Apple way. Every App which I ever installed HAD TO ASK ME FOR PERMISSION to use my contact address book! Like Whatsapp or Viber etc. This is a very faulty and I think it's also Apple's fault. There was a big scandal when Path did similar stuff, when an app, 3rd party app or even a service wants to access my contact info or address book ASK ME! Jobs even said that about location services in D8 2010, each time you want an access to personal info or location ask me, and don't ask me yourself Apple don't trust Apps to put up the banner, tell Apple:"I want to access his personal info" and Apple puts up a banner. http://video.allthingsd.com/video/steve-jobs-and-andy-rubin-on-privacy/0C882D81-DD73-4013-ADDF-4A7D35FA98E3 An app can't just access these stuff without asking me first this is just wrong! You can tell Assaf I said that and show him this post and the link. I am not deleting it for now, but I would like a fix soon, and not just for Wawa but for EACH APP BUZZDOES WANTS TO USE! I don't think it's too much to ask as an end user to have the app ASK me when it wants to access my personal info. BZ
Here is the reply, I hope this will clarify everything ------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, Thanks for the input. buzzdoes DOES NOT send any contact data before the user agrees to do so. In fact buzzdoes took this thing so seriously that we actually are popping up a screen that says exactly what we are doing and how and asking the user to approve it - and without the user accepting it nothing happens (this is exactly to make sure that user privacy is not hurt ). I think that buzzdoes is among very few apps that actually doing this prompt and asking the user to agree. Again - without the acceptance of the user no private data is sent to our servers . We are using of course only official API of apple's and when they will fix the issue of popping a request for the user to approve the access to the contacts - it will automatically will be popped in buzzdoes as well (in addition to our own request from the user that is currently implemented). Viber, Whatsup or other apps - as far as we know are accessing the address book and sending the info to their servers (cloud) . We do not do that. Also - we are going to release a version where there is no access to the contacts at all , just to the Facebook friends - which developers will be able to choose in case to use this version. To summarize privacy is very much important for us and for our users - and that is why we are strictly asking user to accept terms, privacy and explain what we do before doing it. Hope that answer the concerns. Best Regards, The buzzdoes team
This is about where I stand too. I don't really care if the program is dormant or not, I don't want it on my phone. If someone said 'I'm gonna put a virus on your computer but it won't do anything as long as you don't push this button.' thats how I feel about this. I realize it's not a virus but it is a program designed to collect my private information and I don't want it on my phone, dormant or not. Had Wawa came out with BuzzDoes, I would not have bought it and I'm sure those speaking out feel the same way. I loved this game, really loved it, but I won't have this on my phone. I have not updated yet, but the growing list of apps I cannot update for one reason or another is getting to be a burden. I don't blame anyone, I understand it's a business move aimed at getting your game on more devices and I respect that. I wish you all the luck. Your game is awesome and gave me great pleasure. Thank you for that. I hope the move pays off for you because you deserve to be successful with this great game, but I won't be able to be part of it. No hard feelings though.
@CygnetSeven That's really sad that you stop playing Wawa Land because of this. But I totally understand that you are worry about your data. I am maybe naive about Buzzdoes, but I haven't had any issue with my own datas. I really don't fear with this system, but it is maybe because of my culture or.. I don't know. I never thought it would be such a concern to add those two optional buttons. I am really sad to think that I lost my first players with that... Definitely a bad day, going to sleep... haven't done that since days lol
And maybe I am a bit paranoid as well, our culture seem to be filled with people trying to get something from you. No hard feelings sir. Thank you for listening. Good luck.
This I like Yann! I don't think it's Apple's fault by I do wish the bug would be fixed soon and the prompt would pop back up like it should. I didn't delete the app but I do worry a bit on playing this wonderful game. The downplay on Whatsapp and Viber was uncalled for anyways. BZ
No need to thank me Yann, just update us when the problem is fixed or remove this rouge service on the next update. I didn't delete the app but I'm certainly not starting it until it's fixed and a prompt pops up and I'm sure others feel the same way.
@beelzebub23 I will keep you informed @Melvin.c Hey thank you very much! Please rate the app when you've got the time
I rarely post here, but I just thought I'd offer my opinion, I think Wawa is an absolutely fantastic game and I really love it and all the effort and updates you've put into it. But this Buzzdoes service is really concerning even if it is just two buttons, I don't like how it can instantly access your info for just pressing a single button, and I'd hate for Wawa to be ruined by that. Would there be any way for te game to ask if you'd like to use the service? Other than that, I really love the game and I'd hate for it to be ruined, so I hope the service can be removed or at least something is done, and looking forward to future updates!
@> Hey thank you very much for your support! I am really happy that you like the game. Just to be precise, there is a lot of misunderstanding. Buzzdoes does not access your data until you've accepted their EULA. And then it doesn't send it anywhere, it will just read it, locally, to display it, that's all. The only thing it's recording is your own mail, to be able to track the shares. In fact, this service is not running at all until you accept the EULA. That said, I contacted BuzzDoes, and they said they would make a special version for Wawa Land that shows an alert view to the user, si that will be very clear. Have a good day
Ok so BuzzDoes will send me a patch tomorrow and I will send quick 1.06 update later in the day. This update will be available the next week. Maybe this weekend
