Why were Motorola phones hijacking the Amazon app? Here's what the company says.

At a glance:

• Motorola phones briefly redirected Amazon app users through a tracking link before opening the app
• The issue was caused by the Smart Feed app's "app search and suggestion experience" in the Moto App Launcher
• Motorola has fixed the routing configuration and confirmed the behavior was unintended

The Issue: Unexpected Redirects on Motorola Devices

Motorola phones were in the spotlight earlier this week when a Redditor discovered concerning behavior when opening the Amazon shopping app. Instead of simply opening the app, affected phones would briefly open a browser containing a shady URL before redirecting to an Amazon affiliate link. This raised questions about whether Motorola was attempting to steal affiliate revenue or if something more concerning was occurring.

The Redditor who originally discovered the issue found that their Razr 60 Ultra was sending a bunch of requests to devicenative.com. Device Native is a Motorola-affiliated ad company. Meanwhile, 9to5Google spotted the issue on their Razr Fold running version 2.03.0070 of the Smart Feed app. Furthermore, the outlet discovered that the shady URL initially seen in the browser window linked to a fashion influencer's website.

Motorola's Explanation and Fix

Motorola has now issued a statement to Android Authority saying that this was "unintended" behavior and that the app should be working properly once again. The company explained that it had teamed up with Device Native to develop an "app search and suggestion experience" for the Moto App Launcher. This feature is meant to help users quickly find and open locally installed apps.

However, it seems like this feature resulted in an unforeseen issue. Motorola stated: "Recently, Motorola acted quickly to resolve an issue that was identified, which caused some users in the US launching the Amazon Shopping app to be routed through a web tracking link before opening the app. This behavior was unintended and resulted in an inconsistent user experience. Upon identifying the issue, we promptly corrected the routing configuration. Users can now expect all installed apps to launch directly as intended."

Implications for User Privacy and Control

This issue highlights just how much control manufacturers have over their phones. The fact that companies can serve up affiliate links or other content when users try to open an app is concerning from a privacy and user experience perspective. While Motorola claims this was an accident rather than malicious behavior, it demonstrates the potential for preloaded apps and system features to manipulate user behavior without clear consent.

The incident also raises questions about transparency. Users should be informed when their app launches are being redirected, even if the redirection is intended to improve functionality. In this case, the brief browser window and tracking URL were visible to users, but the purpose and implications of these redirects weren't clearly explained.

Motorola's Response and Future Plans

Motorola emphasized that it "takes user experience, privacy, and platform integrity seriously and will continue to closely monitor the system to ensure expected behavior across devices." This suggests that the company is taking steps to prevent similar issues in the future, though the statement doesn't detail what specific measures will be implemented.

On a more positive note, Motorola is teaming up with Graphene OS to launch a smartphone. Graphene OS is known for its focus on security and privacy, offering a more secure Android experience free from tracking and analytics. For users concerned about the level of control manufacturers have over their devices, this partnership could signal Motorola's commitment to providing more privacy-focused options in the future.

What Users Should Know

For those who experienced this issue on their Motorola devices, the good news is that no action is required from users. Motorola has already corrected the routing configuration, and the Amazon app should now launch directly without any intermediate browser windows or tracking links. The company has confirmed that the behavior was unintended and has been fixed.

However, this incident serves as a reminder for users to be aware of how their devices and apps might be interacting behind the scenes. While most manufacturers and app developers have good intentions, occasional bugs or questionable practices can occur. Staying informed about device behaviors and privacy settings can help users make more informed decisions about their technology choices.