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Tile Buyer Life360 Selling Precise Location Data on Millions of Users [Updated]
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If FindMy was a standalone service that is a company’s main product instead of a feature in almost all of Apple’s products? Definitely, in that scenario you are the product. But seeing as it’s basically a feature to sell Apple hardware, that argument doesn’t stand.
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Okay, so let’s use a different example: iTunes. I don’t need Apple hardware or anything to use it. Am I now the product? Who is Apple selling my data to?
Again, my point wasn’t “Apple is as bad as everyone else”, it’s that “if it’s free you’re the product” is a dumb generalisation.
You didn’t understand the scope of my original post. I’m speaking specifically to as close to a global standard as possible. Not just what the EU decided upon.
Unfortunately such standards will never happen, because it would destroy the fundamental business model of powerful behemoths such as Google and Facebook. One can only dream, however.
I definitely don’t expect it in my life time. And there are powerful players against the concept, as you said. Perhaps when enough issues arise and people demand change something will happen. But, again, not in my lifetime.
With Apple the software isn’t free because hardware and software aren’t sold separately. Apple doesn’t list the cost of software because it’s included in the physical products’ price and no one other than Apple sells the software.
It’s not really about good or bad companies but rather the business model. It’s just not sustainable for a company to be offering a completely free service with no other major streams revenue. Even Microsoft started more invasive tracking after Windows became essentially free. What free services/software only company can you list that doesn‘t sell user data or sell ads using that user data?
Again, yes this does have to do with Tile. See post #62, as since Tile would be under the umbrella of Life360, any company that uses Tile in any of their products (embedded or otherwise) are similarly affected.
BL.
It is not a dumb generalization. To put it plainly, companies exist to make money. When you pay for something, the company makes money from the sale of the product or service to you. However, when you DON’T pay for something, the company still needs to make money some other way. In Tech, this usually means monetizing the relationship with the customer, whether it is selling their data, through ad revenue, etc. Quite literally, you are the product, and the customer is another interested third-party.
If you pay for a product or service, a company may still choose to further make money through selling customer data, etc. The difference is that if you’re not paying for a product or service, it’s almost a certainty the company will be making money through monetizing their relationship with you.
This is excellent advice. Just to save some time for anyone wanting to do this:
"If you want us to delete your account, please contact us at terms@thetileapp.com with your request. We’ll take steps to delete your requested personal information as soon as we can, but some information may remain in archived/backup copies for our records or as otherwise required or permitted by law.
Please note, however, that if you delete your account or other personal information , the Location Information associated with any active Tile(s) may still be collected anonymously from other Tile users who are running the app within Bluetooth range of your device. However, any new Location Information that is collected will no longer be associated with your account. You may dispose of your Tiles at a local e-waste facility or contact customer care at terms@thetileapp.com for more information."
Ok....your take is concerning to me. If this article were about apple selling the tracking data to underwrite a product offering, then sure. But please tell me you can see the difference!
This is not about whether you are paying for hardware! My god. This is about whether your location data is being sold or not... The CEO is saying their business model relies on selling location data. So that is my problem. He straight up says it. Its in the article.
My initial comment wasn’t even about the article, it was about the dumb generalisation that some random user posted. But apparently if anything is perceived as possibly not being completely pro-Apple then context doesn’t matter.
The difference is whether apple is selling that location data, and if that is a core business strategy of theirs! Dude! Look at the difference.
I made the comment. It absolutely applies. If you don't see it that way, I can't change your mind. But the prevailing wisdom is that this business is selling user location data WITHOUT common understanding by those users that it's happening. This is a betrayal of trust.
Wonder how much $$ Life360 is paying TheVerge not to publish an article on this. Thanks for reporting on this MR
I’m not disputing that. How many time must I say it? The only thing I’m arguing is that “if it’s free you’re the product” is a bad generalisation. I’m done repeating myself, but if you want to keep arguing against points I’m not making then be my guest.