BeReal Faces Privacy Complaint Over Tracking Consent Practices
BeReal faces privacy complaint over tracking consent.
Matilda
BeReal Faces Privacy Complaint Over Tracking Consent Practices
BeReal, the candid photo-sharing app popular with Gen Z, is under fire for its approach to user consent regarding ad tracking. A privacy rights group in Europe, noyb, has filed a complaint against BeReal, alleging the app employs "dark patterns" – manipulative design tactics – to pressure users into accepting tracking. What Happened? Shifting Landscape: Following BeReal's acquisition by French mobile games publisher Voodoo in 2024, the app altered how it requests user consent for tracking. The Contentious Pop-Up: The new consent banner presents a seemingly straightforward choice: accept or decline tracking. Unequal Experience: The crux of the complaint lies in what transpires after users interact with the banner. Those who refuse tracking are bombarded with daily pop-ups when attempting to post, while those who accept are left undisturbed. Why is This a Problem? Dark Patterns and GDPR Concerns: Noyb argues this tactic constitutes a dark pattern designed to manipulate user deci…