Google Drive scrapes your iPhone's photos, then targets you with ads

A Google Drive user has raised concerns about the app scanning text on photos in his iPhone to create search suggestions.

The user in a Reddit post said he took a photo of a boat ad from a supermarket and ten minutes later saw ad suggestions about the boat without providing much information on the ad..

He therefore concluded that Google Drive may be scanning text on photos in iPhone user’s camera roll to suggest ads based on what the user likes.

A call for caution

Google Drive is one of Google’s many apps that have granted access to photos on the user’s phone. However, many users may have not suspected that it could scan photos on their phone to use them for search suggestions.

The user after deleting Google Drive, took another photo and searched for the image online but didn’t get search suggestions as at the first, suggesting that Google Drive was responsible for the first suggestion.

He therefore said caution should be taken to ensure that no sensitive pictures or other information are kept on mobile devices to avoid being violated.

“So, be warned. If you’ve given Google Drive access to your camera roll, it looks like Google is routinely reading text in photos you’ve taken and using it to generate search suggestions, and probably targeted ads as well. God knows what else they’re doing with that access. Creepy af.”

While some Reddit users disagreed with the report, others confirmed it and added that there is far worse surveillance by social media apps that call for caution as well.

Privacy concerns

Privacy is serious business and can be a major concern when it comes to using the internet. Everything online ranging from websites to apps on phones seek to harness users’ personal data to create ads tailored to their interests.

It can get even worse though. A Google Chrome user recently reported an invasion by Microsoft Edge resulting in exporting his passwords from Chrome to Edge without his consent.