Apple is not the only tech company to worry about their privacy. This article looks at the ways in which other tech companies are handling their data.
Apple’s privacy practices
Apple claims to be a champion of privacy, but government officials aren’t impressed. While some of the company’s innovations may be beneficial, the company fails to adequately explain how it uses data collected by its users.
The company has tried to push back against the FBI’s request to crack an iPhone. It said that the request would affect the security of many iPhones. But that doesn’t seem to be enough for some plaintiffs. A group of consumers is claiming that Apple’s privacy practices have harmed them.
To establish a valid claim, a Plaintiff must show that Apple misrepresented something. They must also show that their assertion is based on actual evidence.
In this case, the plaintiffs claim that Apple lied about how it used the information that it collected from its users. Specifically, they claim that Apple failed to tell them that their iPhones would continue to collect personal data even if they turned off the Location Services feature. Moreover, the company allegedly misrepresented that its advertising platform wouldn’t use or share user data with third parties.
Although the plaintiffs have presented a number of claims, they have not shown any actual evidence to support their claims. Nevertheless, they have argued that the iTunes/App Store terms are relevant to their claims.
The App Store and iTunes terms contain a lot of legalese, but the Plaintiffs haven’t shown that they’ve actually read the documents. However, they have argued that the court should infer reliance from the policy.
Privacy at Apple
As the technology world continues to evolve, consumers are becoming more aware of their privacy. Companies like Apple are taking advantage of this awareness to better protect their users’ data.
Throughout the year, several tech companies have come under fire for the way they collect user data. The most recent controversy revolved around Google’s Assistant, which came under fire for recording and storing users’ requests. In response, Apple has been doubling down on its commitment to protecting privacy.
Apple introduced a new privacy site in November. It features details on the company’s products and services, including information on Siri, iCloud, FaceTime, the App Store, and more.
The site includes a section on government information requests, as well as a list of privacy tips. Some of the tips include creating a strong password, using passcodes, and changing them regularly.
One of the changes that Apple has introduced to its security features is a feature that uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that user data is secure. Another update is the introduction of intelligent tracking prevention in the Safari browser. This new system will not only block “invisible pixels”, but it will also block cookies.
Along with the update to iOS 8, Apple also updated its privacy policies to cover the use of new features. These changes were made to improve the company’s current use of data and provide further detail on how it is used.
Privacy at other tech companies
While Big Tech companies do make small digital privacy improvements, they don’t do enough. And in some cases, they’re not even the best ones.
For example, Apple made a far-reaching change to its advertising strategy in 2017, allowing users to opt out of ad tracking. But did it really help?
The same can’t be said for Facebook. Despite claiming to value digital privacy, Facebook still collects mounds of data on its users. They know when you log onto their site, what pages you visit, your location, your phone number, and what you do online.
The company is also developing new ways to target ads without sharing your personal data. This includes collecting information about your income level, religion, race, and political views.
Other big players in the data-collecting game are Google and Microsoft. Google has a similar advertising strategy to Apple. However, the Google ad saga isn’t over yet.
While the new Apple ad policy has won praise from privacy advocates, it’s still not enough. And if it were, it would be hard to justify the billions of dollars the company spends on ad revenue.
Conclusion
In the end, the best way to protect your privacy is by asking your Internet service provider and Web site owner to sign up for a privacy contract. That way, you can control what data your ISP and Web site owners can track.
