That's just an example guess, but the bloat is there for a purpose... I'm pretty sure the app gets updated on intervals too, just like so many others under the guise of "security or functional updates".
We're in an era where data is weaponized for profit maximization... The most simple and seemingly benign data sets when combined strategically can work against consumers deeply.
We need app audit boards now, maybe even on a government level, and specific detail of everything apps do to be displayed in app stores. There should be serious consequences if apps are found to do things that are not detailed in their release/update descriptions. This collected data can persist forever, and be used in some of the most destructive ways.
Device/OS makers also need to do better at preventing/partitioning non-essential apps from collecting data they don't need access to...
Likely reasons why this isn't already in place is because most don't know how it happens, and many others are invested in these companies, so they turn a blind eye on regulation of them.
1. I highly doubt that's done on device
2. how are they supposed to link you to your bank account? AFAIK cross app tracking is opt in, at least on iOS so unless the user explicitly opts in, you're not going to get a cross-app identifier.
I think you're overestimating the competence of the shops that develop those apps. I bet that 90% of the code is just company's standard set of frameworks and advertising SDKs they put in every app without even thinking about it.
"We noticed that brushing takes you X seconds longer than usual. Do you want to buy new bristles for your tooth brush?"
"We noticed you haven't used our tooth brush in a while. Do you want to buy our new tooth brush?"
"We noticed that you started brushing your teeth earlier than usual. This probably means that you started a new job and can afford our new deluxe premium tooth brush."
"We noticed that you brush your teeth later than usual. That probably means that you met with someone who you can recommend our amazing tooth brush to."
"We noticed that your tooth brushing times are all over the place, so you probably had a child. Buy our new baby tooth brush."
And that is just from the time you brush your teeth. However, the app also collections "Health and fitness and Device or other IDs" according to the app description:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pg.oralb.o...
That means that Oral B can link that data with the data harvested from other apps or data brokers, so they probably know everything about you. Health data seems especially creepy to me. I wonder if it is possible to measure the effectiveness of an advertisement from the heart rate data. At least they can definitely tell if you brush longer after seeing their latest Oral B add on TV/YouTube/some website.
Competitive brushing!
tl;dr IDK but they don't do it without a profit motive.
Step 1: collect data
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Profit
Hopefully you sell the company between Step 1 and 2.
And yeah, the usual electric toothbrushes are terrible slow since the brush heads are in the size of one teeth, instead of 3-4.
Hey, now oral b know where you are all the time, who you know etc
* Collect data on brushing frequency and thoroughness, and sell that data to dental insurance companies. Perhaps not even anonymized, so they can raise your premiums if you don't brush as often or as well as they'd like.
* Nag you to buy brush replacements after a certain amount of time or certain number of uses.
* Use dark patterns to trick you into giving access to other, unrelated data on your phone, and sell this data to third parties.
* Market their other products to you, or even perhaps suggest other things (sold by marketing partners) to buy, like different kinds of toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, etc.
sell that data to dental insurance companies
They've pivoted away from that to general benefits management (basically every flavor of job-connected insurance that isn't major medical), FWIW...
Shit's already fucking happening with car insurance. Install their app to reduce your premium! It's only a matter of time before it's the other way around.
You get permissions to whatever you ask for. The unsavvy user will click yes.
You get a push notification channel that can interrupt the user ANY time of day or night and get their immediate attention. Suggesting products and "deals".
Use your imagination. Think like an asshole.
But honestly I'd say that it's probably more about them being able to market their own products to you by displaying ads and sending you push notifications on new deals on brushes, rather than selling your data to third parties.
Say I have an app with 1M downloads. Who do I sell 1M email addresses and the fact they've bought a toothbrush to?
Think about how many companies have pivoted to burning cash on adding "AI" to their products. How many of those cases are going to end up actually being a good business decision? Probably very few. It's likely the same with everyone just wanting "data" to "analyze"--even if they have no idea how it might be useful.