Updated
Updated · Android Authority · Jun 10
HONOR Launches Virtual Permissions in China, Sending Blank Data to Apps Seeking Contacts and Messages
Updated
Updated · Android Authority · Jun 10

HONOR Launches Virtual Permissions in China, Sending Blank Data to Apps Seeking Contacts and Messages

3 articles · Updated · Android Authority · Jun 10

Summary

  • HONOR’s new Virtual Permissions tool lets users choose apps that receive dummy data instead of real contacts, messages, call logs, or calendar entries.
  • An official Weibo demo showed the feature working app by app, giving users a way to test unfamiliar software or limit data exposure to permission-heavy apps.
  • Realme introduced a similar feature in 2020 but later removed it, with a company forum post citing Android 11 compatibility rules and its partnership with Google.
  • That history raises doubts about a wider rollout: HONOR has not said whether Virtual Permissions will launch outside China, where Google’s Android requirements could become a hurdle.

Insights

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Could Honor's new anti-peeping AI be deemed high-risk surveillance under strict EU regulations?