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Federal Lawsuit Filed Over Apple's Location Tracking in iOS [Updated]
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if for some reason this file is used to cache data that could be sent to Apple, you already agreed to it. This is Apple's privacy policy regarding location-based services...
Location-Based Services
To provide location-based services on Apple products, Apple and our partners and licensees may collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device. This location data is collected anonymously in a form that does not personally identify you and is used by Apple and our partners and licensees to provide and improve location-based products and services. For example, we may share geographic location with application providers when you opt in to their location services.
To provide location-based services on Apple products, Apple and our partners and licensees may collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device. This location data is collected anonymously in a form that does not personally identify you and is used by Apple and our partners and licensees to provide and improve location-based products and services. For example, we may share geographic location with application providers when you opt in to their location services.
When it comes to US lawsuits, pretty much yeah. Tbh, in this case, from the text it seems they are actually only requesting the money they bought it for. Then again, I haven't read the whole thing and wouldn't be surprised if it turned out they were seeking compensation for "damages" for a couple of hundred million dollars as most others tend to do.
And who programmed my phone to create the file? Is it something in iOS or is my phone doing this on it's own? Perhaps out of spite?
This relates to the post below. Location services don't enter into it because the "argument" is that the phone is tracking you with or without location services. Most "normal" people - would imagine if they turn OFF location services - there is no tracking. I'm not saying all or us - I am saying the average person would most likely believe that if they turn off a feature called location services - that they would no longer be tracked. Apparently this isn't the case.
Nike+iPod must be an even more serious privacy violation. After all, it knows how fast I'm going and my calories burned. And it sends the data to nikeplus.com!
Yeah, both iPhone/iPod and Nike+iPod store the information only on my device and sync it only to my other devices, sending it elsewhere only if I want. But if I can make money by suing about it then I'll ignore those inconvenient facts!
Poor example. When you use that type of app you are specifically asking the iPhone to track your movements to provide data to you. See above for my argument on why it's different/there's an inherent difference.
if we are going to start filing lawsuits against the company who designed a product we own for every piece of information it stores, because 'they programmed it' then we are gonna all be very busy for a very long time filing lawsuits. Every computer or phone we all own by any manufacturer is storing all sorts of information about us and our activities on a daily basis!
We don't complain about all that other information that's being stored, and I bet most of the people complaining on here don't even realize the amount of information an internet browser stores, they probably also never clear out their caches, most probably don't even know how.
But then again it doesn't really matter because just like with the iphone location file it's being stored privately on devices that we own and that are in our possession!!
Shocking ....
I just found out that Google Chrome stores data from webpages I visit in an unencrypted way on my harddrive. Everybody with access to my computer can access this data. I was never informed by google that it stores that data on my local disk - the folder (it's called cache) stores for example images from the pages I visited. That is invasion of my privacy! If my wife find that folder, she will see all the porn I watch online. Time to sue Google! I heard rumores that other browsers do this. This is unacceptable - I never agreed to this - totally invading my privacy - everyone with access to my machine can see this data. And I'm sure if I google for porn that those search requests are also transmitted to google (and my ip address).
I just found out that Google Chrome stores data from webpages I visit in an unencrypted way on my harddrive. Everybody with access to my computer can access this data. I was never informed by google that it stores that data on my local disk - the folder (it's called cache) stores for example images from the pages I visited. That is invasion of my privacy! If my wife find that folder, she will see all the porn I watch online. Time to sue Google! I heard rumores that other browsers do this. This is unacceptable - I never agreed to this - totally invading my privacy - everyone with access to my machine can see this data. And I'm sure if I google for porn that those search requests are also transmitted to google (and my ip address).
exactly, they were already at a LOCATION that you had been to in order to have stolen your mac or iphone!
I can't believe the idiots in this thread drinking the Al Franken kool-aide.
Your cell tower whereabouts is recorded only to make a faster connection the next time you're near it. Nobody knows it was you that passed by the damn thing. You are anonymous. You don't exist. Nobody cares about your petty ass.
Even if Apple "sucked" that info from your phone to throw into a pile of other useless stats that some dumb-ass advertiser wanted to buy...
...who cares?
Really children. Grow up.
Your cell tower whereabouts is recorded only to make a faster connection the next time you're near it. Nobody knows it was you that passed by the damn thing. You are anonymous. You don't exist. Nobody cares about your petty ass.
Even if Apple "sucked" that info from your phone to throw into a pile of other useless stats that some dumb-ass advertiser wanted to buy...
...who cares?
Really children. Grow up.
I think apple will do the right thing and this suit will go away.
This isn't right.
People who say "apple isn't tracking you" just don't get it.
I bought a car with onstar technology installed. The system is now disconnected and the antenna long gone. That's my choice. Same with my phone. I want transparency as to what is being recorded and I want the ability to turn it off if I choose.
This isn't right.
People who say "apple isn't tracking you" just don't get it.
I bought a car with onstar technology installed. The system is now disconnected and the antenna long gone. That's my choice. Same with my phone. I want transparency as to what is being recorded and I want the ability to turn it off if I choose.
they are not tracking you.. and exactly what is "the right thing" that Apple should do?
Time to sue AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile...
Yup. Every time you make a cellular telephone call, your carrier is aware of your location. And even when you're not on a call, your phone can potentially be used to locate your position and even eavesdrop on you. According to Wikipedia:
"Officially, the authorities (like the police) can obtain permission to position phones in emergency cases where people (including criminals) are missing. In some instances law enforcement may even access a mobile phone's internal microphone to eavesdrop on local conversations while the phone is switched off."
Full article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_tracking
The privacy freaks are going to go apoplectic if they ever find out about this. Please everyone. Don't tell them.
Yup. Every time you make a cellular telephone call, your carrier is aware of your location. And even when you're not on a call, your phone can potentially be used to locate your position and even eavesdrop on you. According to Wikipedia:
"Officially, the authorities (like the police) can obtain permission to position phones in emergency cases where people (including criminals) are missing. In some instances law enforcement may even access a mobile phone's internal microphone to eavesdrop on local conversations while the phone is switched off."
Full article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_tracking
The privacy freaks are going to go apoplectic if they ever find out about this. Please everyone. Don't tell them.
PR nightmare
I think that this issue is becoming a PR nightmare for Apple. I think that they are going to have to come out with either a patch to modify how this information is collected or have a button to allow people to opt out. While it is possible to disable the location service, I think this creates a problem with the function "find my iPhone/iPad".
The longer that Apple stays silent, the more that this issue will create for them.
I think that this issue is becoming a PR nightmare for Apple. I think that they are going to have to come out with either a patch to modify how this information is collected or have a button to allow people to opt out. While it is possible to disable the location service, I think this creates a problem with the function "find my iPhone/iPad".
The longer that Apple stays silent, the more that this issue will create for them.
They way I read it this will cost Apple all of 2 iPhones.
Nope. A few good news cycles and this will all go away. Trust me.
The question is... who stands to gain the most by dredging this up? Apple has made a lot of enemies. The problem is... they're all doing it. LOL!
They way I read it this will cost Apple all of 2 iPhones.
Apple should offer them to exchange the phones at no cost for two Android phones - will make them happy and Apple has to actually only buy one phone (buy one, get one free deal!) - Apple can the resell those phones as refurbished for more than they payed for the Androids
... but I'm not sure if they have than a tracking free phone, but thats a different story.
Find my iPhone uses GPS to call home unless it is dead. If this file is some sort of back up to find a devices last known position due to not calling home it could be an issue.
Steve saying "we are not tracking" could be correct. Think of it as a DVR on your iPhone?
Apple is collecting location data when location services are turned off, per the Wall Streey Journel. There is no opt-in or opt-out; data is always collected. This is wrong and borderline evil.
Exactly. They've had long enough to make an official considered response about this now. It's amazing that a company that is so fussy about finessing its hardware designs is sometimes so slow to respond to obvious PR disasters, regardless of the rights and wrongs of things, they should just make a statement or the press will (continue to) be in control what normal people think about this, not Apple.
Its the government that requires cell phone carriers and manufacturers to track their customers.....its just most people dont know when the law was passed.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/your-cellphone-has-been-tracking-you-for-nearly-a-decade.html
Apple or any of the others wont get in trouble when its the FCC that requires them to be able to track customers.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/your-cellphone-has-been-tracking-you-for-nearly-a-decade.html
Apple or any of the others wont get in trouble when its the FCC that requires them to be able to track customers.
Hey - maybe that was the plan all along - getting sued for this, comply with the ruling and than they are they have the ONLY cell phone that can't be legally tracked, big selling point ... Smart!
no you are wrong.. APPLE is NOT collecting location data when locations services are turned off, it is only your phone that is continuing to collect this data, it is not sent anywhere.