The In-App Switcheroo

Do you realize that you’re not always using your chosen mobile web browser or your network privacy features? Many mobile apps have their own in-app browser that can gather your data and even inject ads and trackers into any web links you click. I’ll explain how this works and what you can do about it.

In the news: 23andMe bankruptcy ombudsman argues for user consent to data; Meta AI app privacy nightmare; Amazon, Roku sharing users for ads; WhatsApp launches in-app ads; healthcare sites are sharing your data; ICE seeks powerful new surveillance tool; Austrian government wants your encrypted data; new US visa rules require social media posts; Scattered Spider targeting insurance info; VT governor signs child data privacy law; Flock blocks access to some US states; Microsoft offers 1-year security updates for Win10 users; new Android 16 security features; Denmark’s answer to deepfakes; cleaner Google search results; ChatGPT user info reports.

Article Links

1. [therecord.media] 23andMe privacy ombudsman recommends company obtains consent for sale of customer data https://therecord.media/23andme-privacy-ombudsman-recommends-consent-sale
2. [techcrunch.com] The Meta AI app is a privacy disaster https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/12/the-meta-ai-app-is-a-privacy-disaster/
3. [variety.com] Amazon, Roku Strike Deal to Pool Connected-TV Audiences for Advertisers https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/amazon-roku-pool-connected-tv-audiences-advertising-deal-1236432579/
4. [9to5mac.com] WhatsApp just launched ads for all users https://9to5mac.com/2025/06/16/whatsapp-just-launched-ads-for-all-users-here-are-the-details/
5. [The Markup] This Is How You Stop Data Trackers From Sucking up Your Health Data https://themarkup.org/the-breakdown/2025/06/17/this-is-how-you-stop-data-trackers-from-sucking-up-your-health-data
6. [fedscoop.com] ICE seeks proprietary data and tech to monitor up to a million people  https://fedscoop.com/ice-seeks-proprietary-data-and-tech-to-monitor-up-to-a-million-people/
7. [reuters.com] Austrian government agrees on plan to allow monitoring of secure messaging https://www.reuters.com/world/austrian-government-agrees-plan-allow-monitoring-secure-messaging-2025-06-18/
8. [The Hacker News] New U.S. Visa Rule Requires Applicants to Set Social Media Account Privacy to Public https://thehackernews.com/2025/06/new-us-visa-rule-requires-applicants-to.html
9. [therecord.media] Scattered Spider hackers targeting insurance industry following retail hits, Google warns https://therecord.media/scattered-spider-targeting-insurance-sector-following-retail-attacks
10. [epic.org] EPIC Applauds Vermont Governor Phil Scott for Signing Age-Appropriate Design Code into Law https://epic.org/epic-applauds-vermont-governor-phil-scott-for-signing-age-appropriate-design-code-into-law/
11. [404media.co] Flock Removes States From National Lookup Tool After ICE and Abortion Searches Revealed https://www.404media.co/flock-removes-states-from-national-lookup-tool-after-ice-and-abortion-searches-revealed/
12. [techradar.com] Windows 10 users who don’t want to upgrade to Windows 11 get new lifeline from Microsoft https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/windows-10-users-who-dont-want-to-upgrade-to-windows-11-get-new-lifeline-from-microsoft
13. [androidauthority.com] Android 16 introduces Advanced Protection mode to fortify your phone against threats https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-advanced-protection-mode-2-3566064/
14. [theguardian.com] Denmark to tackle deepfakes by giving people copyright to their own features https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jun/27/deepfakes-denmark-copyright-law-artificial-intelligence
15. [tedium.co] Does One Line Fix Google? https://tedium.co/2024/05/17/google-web-search-make-default/
16. [schneier.com] What LLMs Know About Their Users https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2025/06/what-llms-know-about-their-users.html
17. Tip of the Week: https://firewallsdontstopdragons.com/the-in-app-switcheroo/

Further Info

• Delete your 23andMe data: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/03/how-delete-your-23andme-data
• Clean Google Search: https://udm56.com/ 
• Other Google udm codes: https://serpapi.com/blog/every-google-udm-in-the-world/ 
• My book: https://fdsd.me/book 
• Get your Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons Merch! https://fdsd.me/merch 

Table of Contents

• 0:00:00: Intro
• 0:00:51: News preview
• 0:03:14: 23andMe ombudsman recommends gaining consent for sale of data
• 0:07:46: The Meta AI app is a privacy disaster
• 0:11:04: Amazon, Roku Strike Deal to Pool Audiences for Ads
• 0:14:19: WhatsApp just launched ads for all users
• 0:17:03: Data Trackers Are Sucking Up Your Health Data
• 0:21:37: ICE seeks proprietary data and tech to monitor up to a million people
• 0:27:29: Austrian government agrees on plan to allow monitoring of secure messaging
• 0:30:27: New U.S. Visa Rule Requires Applicants to Set Social Media Account Privacy to Public
• 0:34:09: Scattered Spider hackers targeting insurance industry
• 0:38:31: VT Governor Phil Scott Signs Age-Appropriate Design Code into Law
• 0:41:17: Flock Removes States From National Lookup Tool
• 0:44:02: Windows 10 users get new lifeline from Microsoft
• 0:47:21: Android 16 introduces Advanced Protection mode
• 0:50:38: Denmark to tackle deepfakes by giving people copyright to their own features
• 0:53:50: Does One Line Fix Google?
• 0:59:06: What LLMs Know About Their Users
• 1:01:28: Tip of the Week
• 1:09:03: Hacker Summer Camp news
• 1:11:18: Looking ahead