Opera Mini violates many Google’s Policy

[A Former User]

A Former User last edited by

1. https://play.google.com/about/monetization-ads/ads/lockscreen/
   “Unless the exclusive purpose of the app is that of a lockscreen, apps may not introduce ads or features that monetize the locked display of a device.”
   Opera Mini completely violates this rule of Google’s Policy. And the worst: the Opera Software knows that it violates the rule, because the Opera Mini version that I'm using is from January 2018 (this month), the latest version from the playstore: https://i.imgur.com/GsNmHRR.png and https://i.imgur.com/sud0rEc.png
   1A) This lockscreen ads violation is not new, you can see it here from october, 2017: http://www.techweez.com/2017/10/06/disable-opera-mini-lockscreen-ads/
   1B) When we install Opera Mini, the option “Lock screen news” is enabled by default. I tested it on my smartphone. You can see the result: https://i.imgur.com/nvzIjNw.png https://i.imgur.com/378zd04.png https://i.imgur.com/VW5jj9G.png https://i.imgur.com/bGR6cIF.png https://i.imgur.com/qVA2ne6.png https://i.imgur.com/7s13mzi.png https://i.imgur.com/vebLZnJ.png https://i.imgur.com/tzixHEF.png https://i.imgur.com/3fOPxih.png https://i.imgur.com/ELzo1OL.png
   https://i.imgur.com/rzEuyIw.png https://i.imgur.com/1aVva8L.png https://i.imgur.com/2cVn8CL.png

2. Do you think it can not get worse? Yes, it can.
   You could find the option “Lock screen news”, that is enabled by default, right?
   Theoretically, although they violate the google rule, the user can manually disable this option in the settings, right? Basically just look for “Lock screen news” in settings.
   In brazilian portuguese “Lock screen news” is “Notícias na tela de bloqueio”.
   Okay, when it shows the option, it perfectly: https://i.imgur.com/vOnIMnY.png and https://i.imgur.com/5NvtR6t.png
   But when the Opera Mini maliciously hides this option from its users? So they can not disable this option in the settings? https://i.imgur.com/pZlnKn6.png
   Yes, it only shows the “Lock screen news” option when the user starts using the app, so Opera Mini has collected few data about him. After a few days using the app, the “Lock screen news” option will simply disappear. (obviously for the option to come back, so I would be able to take out the printscreen, I deleted the data + app cache from Opera Mini, so the lock screen option came back, as if I were a new user).

3. Do you think it's over? No.
   Now this problem is from Opera Mini and Opera browser:
   https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.opera.mini.native and https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.opera.browser
   If you look for Privacy Statement website in both websites from Playstore, it indicates this website: http://www.opera.com/privacy
   It says “How do we protect your data? We treat your personal data as required by law. We are a Norwegian company and we follow Norwegian data-security laws as well as other national legislation, as needed.”
   But what if I told you that user data (from Opera Mini and Opera Browser) is being sent to China? Yes, when user enable Data Saver mode in both browsers, it connects to a vpn in China. Opera Mini: https://i.imgur.com/S5NDIwi.png and Opera Browser: https://i.imgur.com/CwQguw7.png

The problem is that Opera Software does not make it clear to its users that their data is being sent, unencrypted, to China. Only it says that it is a Norwegian company (So theoretically the data are safe by the European laws and in European territory)
“Opera Software AS P.O. Box 4214 Nydalen NO-0401 OSLO Norway” is the only information they gave us.

My Opera Mini version is 32.0.2254.123747
Opera browser is 44.1.2246.123029

Yes, this is serious and this app (Opera mini) has several reasons to be removed immediately from Playstore.

More one thing that I discovered: it not only connects to China serves when the Data Saver option (Opera Turbo) is enabled. See here: https://i.imgur.com/hn9lZcS.png and https://i.imgur.com/1YDnGkA.png
So the vpn is off, but Opera Mini continue sending user data to China: https://i.imgur.com/IPoWaJe.png (I am using Network Connections android app, to inform me all connections made by the applications installed on my smartphone)

I have just filed a google report on the infringements:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/contact/takedown?hl=en

Have a nice day, Opera team!

[jackob11]

jackob11 last edited by

F**k Opera Mini.
Use Google Chrome instead.
Opera was great until its sold to Chinese.

[leocg]

leocg Moderator Volunteer last edited by

Closed as duplicated.