> doesn't explain why a built-in app would ask for permission to do anything
> that personal data is being harvested by default en masse
You seem to be agreeing, at least to the point that a built-in app is usually granted permissions without requesting from the user. I think it would be more correct to say "bad implementation" instead of "bad design" but the point seems to make sense.
But ultimately it seems that you and OP both agree that this "bad implementation" (ask the user for permission instead of being granted by the OS) is the intended design (require unrelated permission for basic functionality).
> that personal data is being harvested by default en masse
You seem to be agreeing, at least to the point that a built-in app is usually granted permissions without requesting from the user. I think it would be more correct to say "bad implementation" instead of "bad design" but the point seems to make sense.
But ultimately it seems that you and OP both agree that this "bad implementation" (ask the user for permission instead of being granted by the OS) is the intended design (require unrelated permission for basic functionality).