Apple Starts Removing Apps That Share Location Data With Third Parties

[Starlights]

Why hasn’t Facebook been removed from the App Store then?

You as a user can choose to remove it from your phone. ( I did, from all devices)

 

[menace3]

Is there going to be a list of these apps?

 

[bluecoast]

Like Starlights says in the below comment, user data is a valuable commodity. Unfortunately, some people and companies value making money over people's privacy. Kinda mad over the lack of privacy. I know some people want better ads/content targeting them, and don't mind giving personal information. But the companies at least be upfront about sharing your information and be an opt in service.

The EU isn't perfect but I'm really glad it's around to implement and enforce GDPR.

We're still in the Wild West stage of the internet revolution really.

 

[alllexx]

Good, that is a shady practice of those apps in any case. What might spur more action is if Apple could let us know if we have already downloaded such apps so that we can make an informed decision to continue using them while an update may or may not be provided.

I would love this. I do wish Apple would help users understand what the devs won't tell us about what information the devs are using
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How much does Google pay Apple every year, to be the default search engine?

1-3 billion per year

 

[lec0rsaire]

Never grant any app location access unless GPS is integral to its purpose i.e. maps, fitness, etc. There is no reason to grant every damn app access to your location.

 

[Starlights]

If you use Google search engine (as a default or by choice) you can be assured that google has been logging and storing all your activity, especially if you never log out of their other apps such as gmail, youtube, G-maps etc. This aggregated info is then used to profile the user as a product for offering other services, selling anonomized info to 3rd parties etc.

If you value your privacy, change yr default search engine to a non intrusive one (eg. DuckDuckGo), use private browsing, always log out of google apps when done, periodically clear tracking cookies and use a commercial vpn service with European exit node.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

I had no idea that Apple even allowed apps to do this in the first place. I guess I was pretty naive and trusted them to do the right thing.

Since the Facebook controversy and looking into GDPR, here in Europe, I'm really shocked as to how much our data is unprotected and used for all sorts of reason, without our direct consent being given.

I hope that Apple really doubles down on privacy with iOS 12 and makes it its key feature. Here's hoping.

I don't know you were expecting, since iOS apps always had to ask for location data access. I always assumed that if you gave an app location data they were free to do as they pleased with that data, since it's out of Apple's hands.

 

[Ted13]

Any app that uses your location is collecting and selling that data.

I am well aware of that, and wouldn't be using it if I didn't accept that price - it is a choice between advertisers and who knows who else knowing your location or paying $17+ per movie ticket (current NYC going rate).