Apple Confirms Commitment to App Tracking Transparency in Letter Condemning Facebook's Data Collection [Updated]

[Abazigal]

Are these "civil society" organizations also send harsh letters to Facebook or Google?
Just wondering. I mean it's funny talking harsh words to someone about issues created by another 3rd party.

They won’t bother, because they know the management at these companies are basically not going to entertain them.

Apple is perhaps the only company who actually has vested interests in making this happen. And because it’s Apple, it’s going to garner widespread attention.

I would do the same thing if I were in their shoes. Pick my battles wisely to extract maximum bang for my buck.

 

[ArPe]

Facebook is lucky Perez is not Prez of United States. FB thinks they are a government with their own intelligence agency. Instead of regulating them I would send in the army and blow up their buildings and send Zuck to Guantanamo 😜😝😂👍 whole world would rejoice.

 

[SWAON]

Apple is as fishy as Google. It's like a punch under the belt. It's all about the money, not for people's privacy..

 

[polyphenol]

If you seriously believe that "most people ad block" then you are delusional. The number of people that choose to block ads are in the minority.

What is worse, there are huge numbers who view an ad and click on it because they think someone is trying to be helpful and inform them about something they might be interested in.

Long ago, I decided that the bigger and more persistent an advertiser, the less interesting they are as a source.

 

[RockinDev]

I don't care much for Facebook, and think they basically use us for our data, but they are right about Apple. Apple is likely only doing this force more paid content, and therefore make more monies. They really don't care that in the process they will be screwing over the small time devs who rely on ad revenue to pay the bills.

 

[ian87w]

They won’t bother, because they know the management at these companies are basically not going to entertain them.

Apple is perhaps the only company who actually has vested interests in making this happen. And because it’s Apple, it’s going to garner widespread attention.

I would do the same thing if I were in their shoes. Pick my battles wisely to extract maximum bang for my buck.

Make sense. But then on the other hand, it feels like these organizations are not really serious about what they're concerned about. Instead of berating Apple, they should probably be supportive of Apple, especially when the likes of Facebook are making statements against Apple. I'm not seeing these organizations making statements against Facebook/Google. I mean it's as if these organizations are just in for the laughs, but then leave Apple fending for itself, fighting their fight.

 

[Abazigal]

Make sense. But then on the other hand, it feels like these organizations are not really serious about what they're concerned about. Instead of berating Apple, they should probably be supportive of Apple, especially when the likes of Facebook are making statements against Apple. I'm not seeing these organizations making statements against Facebook/Google. I mean it's as if these organizations are just in for the laughs, but then leave Apple fending for itself, fighting their fight.

I will say it’s pretty much par the course these days. If you want to nab headlines (and therefore bring attention to your cause), you start by attacking Apple, which then incentivises news outlets to pick it up and report on it, because nothing draws in the clicks and views like Apple criticism (regardless of whether it is warranted or not).

It’s irritating and annoying, but I guess it can also be seen as a happy problem of sorts, because it’s better to be hated or loved than simply be ignored as far as attention goes.

 

[cupcakes2000]

And how many of the persons on this very forum, who care about privacy, are complaining that BigSur bypasses firewalls and VPN to send unencrypted data to Apple?

Macworld

Macworld is your ultimate guide to Apple's product universe, explaining what's new, what's best and how to make the most out of the products you love.

www.macworld.co.uk

Security warning: Macs 'call home' unencrypted to notarise apps

Researcher claims unencrypted logs sent to Apple's servers contain identifying data; Apple responds with reassurances and by changing its processes

www.macworld.co.uk

Did you read the articles you posted?

Does Apple really log every app you run? A technical look – Jacopo Jannone - blog

 

[polyphenol]

I don't care much for Facebook, and think they basically use us for our data, but they are right about Apple. Apple is likely only doing this force more paid content, and therefore make more monies. They really don't care that in the process they will be screwing over the small time devs who rely on ad revenue to pay the bills.

If I wanted a new tablet, Apple's stance would strongly encourage me to purchase one of Apple's products. That represents a substantial reward for Apple. Obviously, not just my tablet, but multiply that up.

The more Apple do to restrict data collection by others, the greater their sales to those who care.

Sure, they could do more. Maybe they will go further? I hope so.

 

[flottenheimer]

To some of you.

This is not a debate about ads vs no ads.
Or paid-stuff vs ad-financed-stuff.

This is a debate about the degree of tracking and selling of personal information that should be allowed.

 

[The_Gream]

I don’t understand why these guys (Ad profit companies) can’t just create a union/group that collects the data we willingly give - then using smart and private focused computer magic give each person a unique ID.
why can’t they just use the old way of advertising with modern benefits without the data mining/selling.

 

[DoctorTech]

This technology will really hurt small businesses like Google and Facebook Here is an idea, what if I hire someone to follow Mark Zuckerberg everywhere he goes and have them document everything he does so I can sell that information to small businesses that want to snail mail relevant advertisements to him. The person following him around can take notes of what he orders for dinner, who he talks to, what magazines he reads, which elections he attempts to buy, who he pays to mow his yard, etc. You know, stuff that small businesses would need to know before sending him a post card offering $2 off on a car wash.

 

[DoctorTech]

they already make ton of money from clicks. they don't need underhanded stealing and selling of information too

But if they steal and sell your information, they can make 2 tons of money. When you are Mark Zuckerberg, SCREW the user, $10,000,000,000 is simply not enough. Plus, it is not just about the money, it is about the power. The ability to follow people all over the Internet can give you great insights into what they are thinking and doing so Facebook can censor them if they say something Facebook disagrees with on another website.

 

[TwoPlus]

I’m all for this, but I fear it will end like the stupid GDPR web behavior. Now, every web site has to tell you that it uses cookies and you have to click on a button saying that you accept that. So everyone just clicks accept. The result is that nothing changed technically, but the whole user experience of every web site is diminished by annoying pop ups. We could have the exact same thing for every app if we aren’t careful.

 

[polyphenol]

I’m all for this, but I fear it will end like the stupid GDPR web behavior. Now, every web site has to tell you that it uses cookies and you have to click on a button saying that you accept that. So everyone just clicks accept. The result is that nothing changed technically, but the whole user experience of every web site is diminished by annoying pop ups. We could have the exact same thing for every app if we aren’t careful.

No - not everyone clicks on Accept. I never do.

Mind, I wish that there was always an immediately accessible option to Reject All!

I also get annoyed by the sites which immediately request access to my location and/or to be allowed to send notifications. Ridiculous when a lot of the time I'm trying to locate some information - often that results in a few seconds of checking and I am gone, never to return.

I just might be willing to share my country with many sites to get appropriate information. But not my location to within a few yards/metres.

I just might be willing to allow the odd site to alert me in various ways. But if I had allowed every site I have ever visited to torment me with alerts, I'd be unable to do anything but acknowledge/dismiss the alerts!

 

[v3rlon]

Apple trying to protect privacy? Check
Facebook hates it? Check

This decision passes the standard two part test that proves it is good for consumers.

 

[Plutonius]

To some of you.

This is not a debate about ads vs no ads.
Or paid-stuff vs ad-financed-stuff.

This is a debate about the degree of tracking and selling of personal information that should be allowed.

and part of that discussion is how they should be able to monetize their services.

These companies are businesses who exist to make money.

 

[cupcakes2000]

I’m all for this, but I fear it will end like the stupid GDPR web behavior. Now, every web site has to tell you that it uses cookies and you have to click on a button saying that you accept that. So everyone just clicks accept. The result is that nothing changed technically, but the whole user experience of every web site is diminished by annoying pop ups. We could have the exact same thing for every app if we aren’t careful.

The only annoying thing about the cookie pop up rule is that the anti privacy respecting sites make you jump through hoops. Youtube is a nightmare. They should stipulate that it can’t interfere with normal browsing. The rule in general is an excellent idea allowing much more transparency when browsing.

My website, for example, has a non intrusive banner across the bottom with accept or deny. If you click neither it automatically denies. The website is usable even if you don’t do anything, ie, it doesn’t control the whole screen and demand action.

 

[darcyf]

I don't understand this childish "Apple good Facebook bad" approach. Was it really a football game where I'm supposed to take sides? I guess I didn't get that memo.

The Facebook response is spot-on. Does it mean Facebook is a great company? Hell no, they are part of the worst that has ever happened to humanity and I'm very glad Apple is taking this step. Yet, Facebook is right about Apple too -- they are just another big tech in the same business, they have their own nasty stuff going on, and instead of seriously addressing it they are just playing the old distraction card.

Apple is part of PRISM. We've recently discovered Apple spies on its users too. End of the story.

They’re literally lying and using smear tactics, fb’s response was only spot-on if you’re into that sort of score a point any way you can type of rabble rousing.

 

[Rocko99991]

Unfortunately, facebook collects data about YOU no matter what.

They can and do build a profile of you using information from proxy sources , e.g. your friends and associates, whose email and messages and contact list and photos contain YOU

Delete friends who use Facebook then?

 

[iRock1]

They’re literally lying and using smear tactics, fb’s response was only spot-on if you’re into that sort of score a point any way you can type of rabble rousing.

The smoke-curtain part is the one I was specifically addressing, sorry for the poor expression. I don’t know about the rest of the disputed facts.

Apple doesn’t give a damn about your privacy and this whole thing is just a convenient pr stunt after the recently discovered facts.

Whether people like you want to keep in denial or realize Apple might not be that different to fb is up to you.

 

[darcyf]

The smoke-curtain part is the one I was specifically addressing, sorry for the poor expression. I don’t know about the rest of the disputed facts.

Apple doesn’t give a damn about your privacy and this whole thing is just a convenient pr stunt after the recently discovered facts.

Whether people like you want to keep in denial or realize Apple might not be that different to fb is up to you.

What are you basing this assertion on that apple doesn’t care about their customers’ privacy?

 

[TomOSeven]

Man, I wish Apple would start their own version of Facebook. They could make it free with the basic tier of Apple's subscription bundle and then charge a fiver a month or something.

They could prove the concept and then maybe Twitter would follow suit. Sure, they'd lose a lot of users, but they would probably make more money than they're making now. With two major paid social media platforms, the EU, US and maybe even Indian governments could normalise paying for social media and make facebook's ad-based business model that is so corrosive to journalism and democracy illegal.

Western civilisation could get its collective sanity back and the Silicon Valley giants would still make an absolute killing.

 

[cupcakes2000]

The smoke-curtain part is the one I was specifically addressing, sorry for the poor expression. I don’t know about the rest of the disputed facts.

Apple doesn’t give a damn about your privacy and this whole thing is just a convenient pr stunt after the recently discovered facts.

Whether people like you want to keep in denial or realize Apple might not be that different to fb is up to you.

baseless ascertaining

 

[thettareddast]

Delete friends who use Facebook then?

with a time machine, yes, this would be effective