The growth of intrusive technology is no joke

LIFE is complicated enough right now. So something I don’t need is this clever app on my smartphone that insists on telling me about “news items we think will interest you”.

It’s not just the mystery behind who “we” might be, but the worrisome aspect of how they have apparently been chosen.

Let’s be clear about something. Nowhere in my browser history will you find a search for anything related to “Wagatha Christie”. What’s more, there’s absolutely no record of me looking for healthy and fulfilling lifestyle options.

At first it was an irritation. Then things got a bit intrusive when the app stubbornly returned to life no matter how many times I deactivated it.

I spoke to a mate of mine who specialises in online marketing gimmickry. He took a quick look at the screen and came up with the weighty conclusion that I had “bought something”. “Such as?” I asked “Dunno” came the response. So much for insightful expert analysis.

I knew what he meant, though. It’s entirely possible that I’d bought something online and not realised that the part about “valuing my privacy” actually enabled some anonymous automated presence to occupy a spot in my personal cyber-space.

My mate sighed and after a series of swipes, a bit of toggling plus a restart, he handed it back. The app was gone for good.

His feeling was that the phone manufacturer had bundled the feature into the most recent software update. My recollection was that the last download had only mentioned something to do with “improved security” but I couldn’t say for sure.

What really bothered me was a later conversation with a colleague who recounted a similar experience and how her smartphone had become disabled after removing an unwanted app.

Being the cautious type, I got in touch with the manufacturer to clarify what was happening (a minor triumph in itself). Unsurprisingly, they denied all knowledge but referred me to around 36 pages of terms and conditions that basically say they can do anything they like.

The best advice I’ve since been given is to avoid connecting my phone directly to my laptop or PC in future. Like I said, as if life wasn’t complicated enough.

I saw a comment on social media that one of the biggest jokes today is how computers now require us humans to state that we are not robots.

I for one am not laughing.