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Some users have noticed settings that let Meta analyze and retain phone photos

(www.zdnet.com)
530 points mdhb | 8 comments | 29 Aug 25 12:01 UTC | HN request time: 1.211s | source | bottom
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nomilk ◴[29 Aug 25 12:37 UTC] No.45063289[source]▶
IMO Apple should provide the user with audit logs of which photos/videos were accessed by each app. It might be a long list but it alleviates doubt and would put huge pressure on reputable developers to ensure they don’t get caught doing things the user wouldn’t have expected (even if the user technically allowed it).
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AndroTux ◴[29 Aug 25 13:55 UTC] No.45064188[source]▶
I don’t understand why apps need access to my photos at all. (with some very specific exceptions,) apps should only access a photo, which I first select using the system photo picker. There’s no need for apps to access the entire camera roll just so I can select one photo to use with that app.

I know that that’s partially implemented with the limited photo access now, but it’s confusing from a UI perspective and I don’t understand why this isn’t the default.

The only apps that need full access to my camera roll, are apps like Google Photos, Nextcloud or Immich. Everyone else can suck a lemon.

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1. diggan ◴[29 Aug 25 14:06 UTC] No.45064324[source]▶
> I don’t understand why apps need access to my photos at all. [...] There’s no need for apps to access the entire camera roll

So apps like Google Photos or other alternatives to the Apple made Photos app just shouldn't exist at all, if I understand you correctly?

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2. bbarnett ◴[29 Aug 25 14:09 UTC] No.45064366[source]▶
Did the parent edit their comment? Because your response seems to directly ignore multiple things they said.
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3. diggan ◴[29 Aug 25 14:14 UTC] No.45064422[source]▶
Right now the comment says the same as when I wrote my comment:

> I don’t understand why apps need access to my photos at all [...] There’s no need for apps to access the entire camera roll [...] The only apps that need full access to my camera roll, are apps like Google Photos, Nextcloud or Immich

Which still make me ask the question: They think no apps should access all photos, there is never any need for that, and these app currently do that and they need that, so are they saying those apps shouldn't exist at all?

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4. hdgvhicv ◴[29 Aug 25 14:22 UTC] No.45064520{3}[source]▶
They literally say

“The only apps that need full access to my camera roll, are apps like Google Photos”

Obviously they don’t think the apps shouldn’t exist.

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5. ◴[29 Aug 25 14:45 UTC] No.45064822[source]▶
6. diggan ◴[29 Aug 25 15:44 UTC] No.45065575{4}[source]▶
So again, how does that work when someone also feels like "There’s no need for apps to access the entire camera roll", am I having reading comprehension problems or is there something else going on here?
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7. amanaplanacanal ◴[29 Aug 25 15:55 UTC] No.45065725{5}[source]▶
They listed what they thought should be the exceptions to the blanket statement.
8. ipaddr ◴[29 Aug 25 16:23 UTC] No.45066100[source]▶
Google photos stores your photos in the cloud or constantly tries to force you to backup everything to the cloud.

So no it doesn't need permission to manage your local photos. Upload to Google and manage the photos on the cloud if you trust Google while increasing privacy for everyone else.