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Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney today commented on Apple's Find My service, referring to it as "super creepy surveillance tech" that "shouldn't exist."

FindMy-Feature.jpg

Sweeney went on to explain that several years ago, "a kid" stole a Mac laptop out of his car. Years later, Sweeney was checking Find My, and as the Mac was still connected to his Apple ID account, it showed him the location where the thief lived.


Sweeney's take is curious, because providing the location of a lost or stolen device is exactly what the Find My service is meant to do. Apple devices remain tied to a user's account if not removed, a feature that is meant to thwart theft.


After confusion from his Twitter followers over his comments, Sweeney said that the location of a device in someone's possession can't be tracked without tracking the person, and "people have a right to privacy." He claims that detection and recovery of a lost or stolen device should be "mediated by due process of law" and not exposed to the device owner "in vigilante fashion."

When Sweeney saw how Find My worked, he said he turned off the feature on all of his devices.

While Apple's AirTag item trackers have been criticized for their use by stalkers, the Find My service has not been the target of similar complaints. Find My and Activation Lock have been important theft deterrents, cutting down on iPhone theft. Apple recently expanded Activation Lock to include iPhone components to prevent them from being disassembled for parts.

Article Link: Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney Calls Apple's Find My 'Super Creepy Surveillance Tech' That Shouldn't Exist
That's a severe statement. It's not a privacy concern, it's a safety benefit. My product, My Macbook. I deserve to know where it's and who has possession of it. It's a no brainer thought. That guy is delusional lol
 
This worries me a bit. I didn't think he'd win with the Alt App Store initiative but he did (in Europe at least, but it's spreading). So why this and why now? What's he up to?
He can't be that rich and that thick, or just bloody vindictive, can he?
How about, just for a change, what the consumers want instead of what these rich mommy boys cry for?
 
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Obviously just trying to pick a fight and make noise.
He has a personal animosity towards Apple. He should stop using an iPhone and a Mac.
 
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Reactions: Jay Tee
That is the dumbest thing I’ve read on the internet all week. Criminals have a right to not be tracked after violating the law?!? What sort of a crazy universe does he live in?!?
 
And OnStar is also creepy after a kid steals his car. 🤦‍♂️
Note that this comings from the same person who thought there would be no repercussions for breaching its terms of contract with Apple.

I hate to say it but, it honestly seems like someone smoking crack every time he decides to say or do something 😵‍💫
 
TBH. Sweeney is just using the usual tactic of if you say something so ridiculous or stupid, it gets peoples attention. Plenty of Narcasists out there using this exact same tactic. It doesn’t have to be true or even what they actually think, But it’s gets people talking about them and that’s all they want. Although he probably believes it ins this case case well.
 
Sweeney is either oblivious or loopy. Try asking the cops to 'mediate' your located lost device retrieval. They're gonna laugh in your face.
 
Why does this guy own Apple stuff atall?
He has so many issues with everything about the company and products.

He seems rather feature ignorant if he only found out about Find My years later than using it immediately to get his stuff back or at least deactivate it and make it worthless (and protected from use).
 
He honestly sounds dense. There’s no right to privacy regarding the location of your stash of stolen goods 😂

Well, level of tracking done (WiFi / BT beacon) is somewhat scary. Yes, currently we do have safeguards that it is (or rather should be) impossible to track someone with airtag BUT... this information I still collected. The marketing sounds right ("it's for your good and protection") but all this very exact data is in the hands if Apple...

Maybe we should try fixing society so the theft and robbery aren't a thing so we don't have to be tracked?

Justa a food for thought...
 
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Indon't get his problem, findmy needs to be set up by the device owner, and locations shared if anyone is to track you. Is this just another Apple=bad from thar wortless epic ceo
 
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I have not responded to anything on “X“ in forever - I had to respond to this idiot. What is wrong with him??? He is just LOOKING on things to complain about that involves Apple - his hate is DEEP!
He needs attention, and he knows moaning about apple will get him applause from haters and hate from fanboys. Best to ignore him.
 
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Fake? If the thief got access to the OS they'd have removed Find My. If the thief didn't get access, how are they still using the laptop after "years" ?

On the other hand both Epic and Apple are IAP peddlers (with Apple explicitly pushing the app industry towards IAPs). Epic just wants a larger piece of the pie.
 
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Unpopular opinion here... You take my SIHT, your rights are forfeit until I receive my stolen item(s) and you are taught a life lesson. Yes I'm from NY and this IS some New York Siht!
 
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