What are app permissions and why do they matter?¶
Permissions define which device data and functions an app is allowed to access. They establish capability, not proof that access occurred.
Capability varies over time¶
Location, camera, microphone, contacts, media, Bluetooth and notification access may be denied, granted once, limited to foreground use or changed later. Accessibility, administration and VPN profiles can provide broader powers. Record the permission state and operating-system context without altering it.
Prove the event separately¶
Camera permission does not show a photograph was taken, and location permission does not show continuous collection. Use app logs, content, usage records and provider evidence to establish actual activity.
Key takeaway
Use permissions to explain what an app could do, then require event evidence before concluding that it did so.
