Acrobat now requires unfettered access to files - WHY??

[Eclectic01]

Why does the latest versions of acrobat require all storage access as opposed to just media access? This is not consistent with the personal privacy trend in computing! Don't be evil, change it to media only access required in the next update.

[Harsh Vardhan Pareek]

Hi @Eclectic01 

Thanks for reaching out. Google has updated the permissions prompt with Android 11 and higher, Acrobat requires this permission to browse, view PDFs, and provide capabilities such as editing, commenting, or signing. Acrobat will not modify or delete any of your files without your explicit consent.

Hope this will help.

Thanks,

Harsh

[Eclectic01]

Hi Harsh, thank you for responding.

Android 11 allows selection between 'all files' and 'media files only' for all apps (see attached screen shot - paying particular attention to the information message at the bottom). My question is why can't the app work on media access only. I'm not worried about Adobe deleting files, I'm worried about Adobe vacuuming up the files of mine and other users that may contain personal or proprietary information for meta-data purposes that are not PDFs.

Thank you again for your interest in this issue.

[Harsh Vardhan Pareek]

HI @Eclectic01 

The following article captures the details of why this permission is required https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/new-device-storage-permissions-in-acrobat-reader-app-for-android.htm...

Thanks,

Harsh

[Ed235292713mi4]

You can learn more about this at   https://www.adobe.com/legal/terms.html  .  Here's something I found on the page for my version of Adobe Acrobat Reader:

"2.4 Sensitive Personal Information. You agree not to collect, process, or store any Sensitive Personal Information using the Services or Software. You agree not to transmit, disclose, or make available Sensitive Personal Information to Adobe or Adobe’s third-party providers. “Sensitive Personal Information” means an individual’s financial information, sexual preferences, medical, or health information protected under any health data protection laws, biometric data (for purposes of uniquely identifying an individual), personal information of children protected under any child data protection laws (such as the personal information defined under the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”)) and any additional types of information included within this term or any similar term (such as “sensitive personal data” or “special categories of personal information”) as used in applicable data protection or privacy laws."

So I guess I should no longer use Acrobat for downloading my bank statements, or the planner for an upcoming medical procedure. I'll have to research to find a secure reader--maybe the one built into Firefox? Who knows? But unless I misunderstand what I'm reading, I'm done with Acrobat. Too bad, it's a good product.

[Harsh Vardhan Pareek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Ed235292713mi4 

The Document Cloud Additional Terms further apply to the Acrobat Reader product and modify the Sensitive Personal Information clause of Adobe’s General Terms of Use, namely so that the user has the freedom to use Reader to process a broader spectrum of information on the user’s mobile device. Learn more here, noting specifically that even when you share permissions for managing all files stored on your device, the Acrobat Reader app does not access, modify, or delete any file without your request or specific permission. Any access to your files is for the purpose of simplifying the use of the app, e.g., displaying recently used files under the Recent tab, enabling search and browsing of all files on your device for you to open into Reader, etc.

We hope this helps.

Regards,

Harsh