Why does Wyze app Require Location for Blutooth conection

Wyze App
1

Every time I enter the Wyze app to adjust something with the headphones it requires that location be turned on. If I deny this, it brings up a screen that says, “You must allow Location permission to pair”. This is a HUGE invasion of privacy. There is no need for location service to be allowed to pair bluetooth.

2

I’m assuming that you are using Android. Android requires you to enable location permission because an app can determine your location by scanning with bluetooth. It is a system wide requirement for the app to request that permission if it wants to use bluetooth. It is NOT specific to Wyze apps. I’m a developer and I have seen other customers complain about it when we used bluetooth in our apps.

Here is a link to the developer documentation for Android that states that you must request location permission. Bluetooth permissions  |  Android Developers

Target Android 11 or lower

If your app targets Android 11 (API level 30) or lower, declare the following permissions in your app’s manifest file:

  • [ BLUETOOTH ] is necessary to perform any Bluetooth classic or BLE communication, such as requesting a connection, accepting a connection, and transferring data.
  • [ ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION ] is necessary because, on Android 11 and lower, a Bluetooth scan could potentially be used to gather information about the location of the user.If your app targets Android 9 (API level 28) or lower, you can declare the ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permission instead of the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission.
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