Apple to Launch Revamped Apple ID Website That Lets Users Download All Their Data

[MacRumors]

Apple will soon introduce an updated website for managing Apple IDs, which will allow Apple users to download a copy of all of their data stored by the company, reports Bloomberg.

Customers will be able to download data like their Contacts, photos, music preferences, Calendar information, and more. The site will essentially let users download all information stored across Apple's apps and services.

Apple also plans to allow customers to use the site to correct personal information, disable their Apple ID account, and permanently delete an Apple ID.

At the current time, there is no way for users to download their data or delete their accounts without directly contacting Apple.

Apple is making the change to comply with the European Union's new General Data Protection Regulation, which goes into effect on May 25.

Apple plans to release the new web-based privacy tools in Europe in early May, with an expansion to come to other countries at a later date.

The iOS 11.3 update, released this morning, also has privacy improvements in the form of new privacy splash screens that are displayed within each of Apple's apps when you open them for the first time to explain what data Apple collects and why.

Article Link: Apple to Launch Revamped Apple ID Website That Lets Users Download All Their Data

 

[Chazzle]

I love this.

 

[ChrisKnight]

Download... OK. That's a start.

What I really want is an interface that lets me DELETE data from iCloud.

Long ago I accidentally let my keychain sync up to Apple. There is no mechanism to affirmatively delete that data. Apple says something along the lines of when configure all your existing devices to not sync keychain, they will automatically delete the data, and yet that's not provable via their interface.

 

[Sethal]

This is huge! Non-Cloud backups without iTunes. Great news!

 

[Godzilla71]

Only Apple can do this.

Seriously though, You think any of the others are going to be doing this anytime soon?

Edit before I get quoted again. This was more of a sarcastic reply! I don’t use Facebook or google services. Again, it was a joke son a joke!

 

[codewrangler]

Cool...can't wait to try it out.

 

[predation]

Thanks Facebook lol

 

[RogerWilco]

The system as it stands now is screwed up. A relative had a medical emergency two months ago, and his PC and phone were stolen while he was in the hospital. Although he bought a new iPhone, he found it impossible to access his previous account and icloud data because he couldn't remember his password and his trusted devices were not available. The perfect catch 22, but maybe this new feature/service will help him transfer the lost data.

 

[now i see it]

Wow- if this gets hacked, we're all doomed.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Thank you, Apple.

It makes this Apple user much more comfortable knowing I can download my own information.

 

[michaelb5000]

I really wish we could split our apple Id and iTunes services; I don't want one account for everything. I would want my icloud account including find my phone/mac to be locked down, but I don't need that level of security for iTunes purchases.

I actually have a separate apple ID from the time before iTunes took over everything, but there isn't anyway that I know of to use that anymore (separate from iTunes).

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

This sounds likely to backfire to me... Apple has set up a single spot where if hackers find a way in, they can get everything.

And I realize there were probably other spots, but I feel like they were less visible than this is.

 

[JohnDoe98]

Good, but given Apple’s current release timeframes expect the other countries to take a year to be implemented. By the way when will we be able to merge Apple IDs?
[doublepost=1522346997][/doublepost]

This sounds likely to backfire to me... Apple has set up a single spot where if hackers find a way in, they can get everything.

And I realize there were probably other spots, but I feel like they were less visible than this is.

There has always been only one way in, i.e. the Apple ID and password; it unlocks everything. This just makes everything more convenient and easier to manage for the customer. Since I can’t merge my Apple ids I’ve wanted to delete the extra accounts for a while now. Finally Apple will let me, eventually...

 

[SevenSeas]

And now Apple will have to be a pioneer quantum cryptography. I am cautiously optimistic with this development, and another public and well timed slap to the face of FB ;-).

 

[NexusUser]

Only Apple can do this.

Seriously though, You think any of the others are going to be doing this anytime soon?

Google has had this for years, about time Apple caught up. Maybe this will make it easier to escape the walled garden...

 

[sniffies]

Wow- if this gets hacked, we're all doomed.

this x3000

 

[BootsWalking]

How about a site that tells Apple's customers how much Apple earns from other companies to feature them and their privacy-invading business models on the phone, such as Google and Facebook?

 

[nt5672]

As a routine Apple basher, but a long, long time user, this is one of the really good things that Apple is getting right these days. Go Apple.
[doublepost=1522347362][/doublepost]

Wow- if this gets hacked, we're all doomed.

The next step is an encryption key that only the user knows. If Apple truly supports privacy, then Apple will make the encryption key management transparent and effortless, without having the key stored on Apple servers.

 

[augustrushrox]

This is huge! Non-Cloud backups without iTunes. Great news!

Would be great if Apple released a "HomeCloud" server/backup where you could backup your devices easily and automatically to your own own cloud instead of Apple's.

 

[dampfnudel]

Thanks Facebook lol

Yeah, Facebook’s massive data harvesting has opened the eyes of a lot of people who were previously “asleep” or just blissfully ignorant. Companies like Apple are just being proactive now ahead of any legislation that may curtail their operations and more importantly their profits. Not that Apple is in the same boat as FB and Google when it comes to u$ing/abu$ing your data, but Apple is still a participant, willing or unwilling when it comes to their devices being used to harvest the data. Users share the blame as well, but some of us expected (foolishly) that companies like FB would adhere more to their clearly stated privacy policies and guard our data more rigorously. Shame on us.

 

[zmon]

I really wish we could split our apple Id and iTunes services; I don't want one account for everything. I would want my icloud account including find my phone/mac to be locked down, but I don't need that level of security for iTunes purchases.

I actually have a separate apple ID from the time before iTunes took over everything, but there isn't anyway that I know of to use that anymore (separate from iTunes).

I believe this still works, or at least it does for me. I've had it like this for the past 8 years at least. I have my iCloud stuff on one ID, and my app purchases/itunes stuff is all on a separate ID. iOS allows you to sign into a different account for itunes/app store purchases in settings -> itunes & app store.

 

[augustrushrox]

I love this.

It's a good start but there should be a way to definitively delete and PROVE that your data has been "permanently" (I use quotations because permanent data deletion is complicated theoretically) from their servers.

 

[mi7chy]

The data isn't complete. We need to be able to see what's shared with other agencies.

 

[poppy10]

Only Apple can do this.

Seriously though, You think any of the others are going to be doing this anytime soon?

Google have had this for years. A single page where you can download everything they hold on you

https://takeout.google.com/

Other major sites either have the same thing or will have to develop it in response to the GDPR rules

 

[lunarworks]

2FA, people. It's now more important than ever.