> the capability itself doesn't scare me at all

That exactly what should scare you.

Until recently, the worst a malware/adware could do is corrupt your data. The solution was simple: wipe everything, restore from backup. Today, it's information leak. Leak once and there's no way to remedy the damage. "Permanent record" like Snowden said.

And why it's important and should scare you: Read a bit about state security in communist countries in the '80s. I lived a bit through that. What they achieved with very limited technical capabilities is very impressive even today.

A totalitarian regime today, with the tech we have now, will be permanent. Forever. No way out. No revolution possible. Considering the mass manipulation of public opinions possible today, some could even consider that inevitable. My only concern now is to not to have a preexisting "permanent record" when it happens.

Capability restricted by configuration is fragile, mutable. Capability of privacy compromise should not exist at all. When the OS works against you, no configuration setting will protect you. The only thing left to do is to refuse to install anything that has dangerous capabilities, most of all, the capability to auto-update configuration or auto-install new capabilities.