Facebook Preparing Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple for 'Unfair' Approach to Privacy and Default Apps

[mi7chy]

I really don’t think that Facebook realized that the population is against them on this one. Talk about living in an ivory tower. I don’t really care how this effects their bottom line - if they can’t make money without harvesting my data to sell, then they should go out of business.

Not a FB fanboy and use a browser and not their app but they have over 2.7 billion active users and growing. Doubt they're going anywhere with no viable alternative platform. Part of issue is Apple is jealous they don't have the user base the size of FB to collect data from.

 

[1rottenapple]

I own Facebook stock purchased when it was low and even I hate Facebook. Horrible horrible company I hope the go bankrupt.

 

[BWhaler]

Someone needs to explain to Zuck abut the Streisand Effect.

‘’and don’t buy the misdirection. This has absolutely nothing to do with Messenger. They just needed to find competitive overlap to sue. This has everything to do with harvesting your data.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

A bit ironic for Facebook to call Apple anti-competitive, given they charge businesses to access tracked user data.

 

[Dave-Z]

Facebook alleges that the prompts are unfair because they do not appear for Apple's own apps, offering it a competitive advantage. However, Apple's apps do not track users or share data for advertising purposes, so this seems to be a bemusing foundation for the lawsuit.

It is true that Apple's apps do not track users for the purposes of advertising, but it should be stated that Apple does track users. Users cannot opt out of tracking for Books, Podcasts and Siri; the latter associates the data with an Apple ID for a period of time.

Not that I agree with Facebook here.

some employees are apparently concerned that Facebook is "not a compelling victim,"

No kidding?

 

[Mike_Trivisonno]

The Zuckerberg Mark I unit is glitching out bad today.

 

[jimbobb24]

Playstation Games are limited to Playstation Store. Isn’t this true of every system like this?

All the companies that sell your information can die. Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube. I would pay google a fee for private searches without any tracking. But I guess I am in the minority.

Some have pointed out that Apple does track. In which case Apple should follow its own rules. I love the App Store walled garden but if apple cheats they will eventually lose it. Follow the same rules as everyone else.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

I own Facebook stock purchased when it was low and even I hate Facebook. Horrible horrible company I hope the go bankrupt.

Your chance to get out was this morning when it went up 5% before pulling back. Why own a stock if you hate it? I sold mine on that little pop, all of it. At this point there are just so many easier stocks out there.

 

[Psychicbob]

How dare you! We should be allowed to continue exploiting people without their knowledge! I can just see Zuck’s sulking face.

 

[Dave-Z]

also it’s not like Apple IS blocking it completely, they are just giving users a choice.

I feel this is really the crux of the issue. Facebook seems to be portraying this as though Apple is not allowing the tracking, but in fact Apple is just giving the user the choice.

Facebook should really be filing a lawsuit against its users, for choosing to not allow tracking.

 

[ajfahey]

Is this good vs evil or pot calling the kettle black?

More like evil versus evil, shoe on the other foot and pot calling kettle black. Both are fine with what each promote as evil behavior when it suits their objectives

 

[RFolk]

So Facebook can't track your data , can't sell your data, can't do anything , well , Facebook, I am here to save you, for a monthly fee I offer my data to YOU to be tracked / trade whatever. It's my personal subscription for your to have access to my personal awesome Netflix brain-farts...

Everyone else, together, we can save Facebook , let's make them honest !!! 🍏
BTW Facebook , How does it feel no to steel ?

 

[Dave-Z]

Facebook and Apple both want the same thing: As much user data as they can get. Apple uses it to sell their products and services. Facebook uses it to sell ads.

I dislike them both for the same reason, but at least Apple gives me something I can actually use.

 

[cmaier]

I’ve said it multiple times on here, but I’ll say it again: **** facebook.

And, in case there’s been any confusion, the secret decoder ring is **** starts with the letter f, ends with the letter k, and the middle two letters do not stand for University of California.

 

[cmaier]

Facebook and Apple both want the same thing: As much user data as they can get. Apple uses it to sell their products and services. Facebook uses it to sell ads.

I dislike them both for the same reason, but at least Apple gives me something I can actually use.

this is bull. Apple collects remarkably little user data.

 

[rp100]

The most compelling part of this lawsuit is the ability to set default applications - specifically, default messaging applications. Apple could simply add that feature mid-lawsuit and completely derail Facebook’s efforts, though I don’t believe that will happen.

However, Facebook’s behavior is more indicative of a loss of power. Facebook running full-page newspaper ads and now a potential lawsuit was a foolish slip on their part: they revealed that their back is on the ropes. Whatever data Facebook is getting from people’s phones, it’s clearly the source of their power (with revenue being more of an afterthought). Facebook enjoys an INSANE amount of power by controlling the stories and images that are presented to its users. A quick Google search shows that people use Facebook an average of 58 minutes a day - that means Facebook gets 58 minutes a day, across billions of users, to inject any ideas they want. Entire societies are on an emotional rollercoaster as Facebook tries to find the balance between family chats, stories from old schoolmates, and emerging threats which can only be soothed with additional Facebook consumption and consumer spending. Now consider politicians and world leaders who want to advance a cause - imagine all they could accomplish with even 1 of those 58 minutes - injecting text, images, and video into people’s brains and who willingly put a screen 12 inches from their eyes! The distraction has become the method of delivery.

 

[HudsonSteele]

Im sorry, but I don't see how in any way, Facebook can spin this to look like they aren't just mad that they can't treat people like cattle.

Their business model is similar to that of the tapeworm; get into your victims life and live off them without their knowing until something bad happens and then it takes significant effort to remove them from your life, and the effects may never go away.

Besides, there is a solution to this. I used to manage a sports facility. We rented lockers. One day someone came in and said they didn't agree with the user agreement we had them sign. I said that was fine and that they were more than welcome to not rent the locker. Agreeing and renting went hand-in-hand and were not optional. All Facebook and others have to do, is let apple present the prompt, then alert the customer that if they want to use the app, they must agree to being tracked, and render the app useless if the still say no. Its not ideal, but then they can feed off the sheep of the bunch and let the rest of us who care live our lives in peace.

 

[cmaier]

The most compelling part of this lawsuit is the ability to set default applications - specifically, default messaging applications. Apple could simply add that feature mid-lawsuit and completely derail Facebook’s efforts, though I don’t believe that will happen.

However, Facebook’s behavior is more indicative of a loss of power. Facebook running full-page newspaper ads and now a potential lawsuit was a foolish slip on their part: they revealed that their back is on the ropes. Whatever data Facebook is getting from people’s phones, it’s clearly the source of their power (with revenue being more of an afterthought). Facebook enjoys an INSANE amount of power by controlling the stories and images that are presented to its users. A quick Google search shows that people use Facebook an average of 58 minutes a day - that means Facebook gets 58 minutes a day, across billions of users, to inject any ideas they want. Entire societies are on an emotional rollercoaster as Facebook tries to find the balance between family chats, stories from old schoolmates, and emerging threats which can only be soothed with additional Facebook consumption and consumer spending. Now consider politicians and world leaders who want to advance a cause - imagine all they could accomplish with even 1 of those 58 minutes - injecting text, images, and video into people’s brains and who willingly put a screen 12 inches from their eyes! The distraction has become the method of delivery.

What would a “default messaging app” even mean in iOS? WHat would that look like? I mean, everywhere that Messages shows up in the operating system,. Messenger also seems to show up. When I tap “share” i see my frequent messenger contacts right next to my frequent messages contacts.

 

[Geepaw]

If Facebook is saying that it, and others, are entitled to your personal tracking history for marketing purposes -- then that surely must be some kind of joke. I hope Apple crushes Facebook just to demonstrate Facebook's absurdity.

 

[Analog Kid]

It’s a shame that Apple is so bad at web services because this would be a perfect time to put out a press release announcing a privacy focused cross platform social media network. But, you know, Ping...

 

[hugodrax]

Facebook will look like the douche in a trial by jury against Apple. Trying to force Apple to allow Facebook to spy on its user is not an Antitrust issue.

 

[Jimmy James]

What I see and predict:
1. Facebook doesn’t think they can succeed with a more transparent privacy approach.
2. This is the beginning of a great decline for FB.

Author of their own [future] misfortune.

 

[rp100]

What would a “default messaging app” even mean in iOS? WHat would that look like? I mean, everywhere that Messages shows up in the operating system,. Messenger also seems to show up. When I tap “share” i see my frequent messenger contacts right next to my frequent messages contacts.

Exactly! A default browser is one thing, but what is Facebook proposing with a default messaging app? Does a default app inherently enjoy additional access to user data? Does it get top position on the ‘share’ menu?

Facebook is using the default messaging app as a core part of its complaint and I’m eager to see how they develop that argument.

 

[dwaite]

I fully agree with the default apps part.

It is difficult - the only thing making an app "default" is whether SMS are channeled through it. But SMS data is highly personal and (with 2FA) highly risky to give arbitrary third parties access to.

There are also system integration functions that a third party would need to write code to support - the share sheet 'bubbles' (this has been public api for 2+ years without facebook bothering to support it) as well as safari 2FA form fill support.

I could see Apple doing this via a partner program where apps have to commit to not having any messages or derivative data leave the phone, and commit to full API coverage at launch for major releases. Facebook would most likely not like the terms.

 

[SDJim]

iOS 14's App Tracking Transparency feature, which allows users to opt-out of being tracked via an on-screen prompt, is believed to be central to Facebook's case. Facebook alleges that the prompts are unfair because they do not appear for Apple's own apps, offering it a competitive advantage. However, Apple's apps do not track users or share data for advertising purposes, so this seems to be a bemusing foundation for the lawsuit.

Yeah, no sh*t! 🤣
This is such a joke it's almost sad.

"In addition to App Tracking Transparency, Facebook is expected to focus on Apple's refusal to allow third-party messaging apps to be installed as the default option on iPhones and iPads... it now claims that Apple disallows other messaging apps to be set as default in an effort to prevent people from switching to competing smartphone brands."

I'm sorry, what??? Since when is changing the default messaging app a thing on phones??? iMessage is text messaging 2.0! Not some internet chat service! And If it's such a good messaging service that people don't want to switch platforms, that's called competitive advantage, genius! And people can tune iMessage off if they want! But the don't! Because it's awesome! And secure! And encrypted! And private!