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Is Apple serious about privacy?


  • Total voters
    313

Mark Stone

macrumors 6502
Mar 20, 2022
497
551
In its case.
I voted Yes. Privacy can be viewed two ways: 1. - privacy in regards to advertising and tracking for that purpose, and 2. - protection from individuals or companies will ill intent. As far as advertising tracking, IDK. As far as keeping my stuff out of the hands of thieves and trolls, Apple’s pretty good.

If I look for guitar strings on my iPad, I like the flood of ads that come to me - it helps me make my purchase. However, if someone wants to hack into my Apple account, it is very, very difficult unless I get sloppy with my own preferences. The two-factor authentication and the “trusted device” features from Apple make me feel very secure.
 

eyoungren

macrumors Penryn
Aug 31, 2011
29,604
28,365
I prefer to have multiple companies, each one possessing a small portion of my data, than a single company possessing it all.
This is exactly my meaning about not putting all my eggs in one basket or using just one service.

If someone is truly determined to get my info I have no way of stopping them. It's out there via either public lookup or website security breaches. But I'm not going to store it all in one place. They're going to have to piece it together while I do all I can to hide it away.
 
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Feyl

Cancelled
Aug 24, 2013
964
1,951
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/21/technology/google-surveillance-toddler-photo.html

For all those people that can't wait for a major privacy intrusion caled CSAM, this story is a great example of what people like me are warning about and how the deep scanning of our lifes won't change anything regarding the actual crime. This is exactly the case which we discussed here and some people still said that it can't happen because Apple is comparing the hashes, etc.. Well, it's true that Google is using different approach but this story can tell you how every piece of technology can be and is faulty. And imagine how it could destroy your life if some major company will call you a criminal. Even though is isn't true the label will stay with you possibly forever.
 

eyoungren

macrumors Penryn
Aug 31, 2011
29,604
28,365
If I look for guitar strings on my iPad, I like the flood of ads that come to me - it helps me make my purchase. However, if someone wants to hack into my Apple account, it is very, very difficult unless I get sloppy with my own preferences. The two-factor authentication and the “trusted device” features from Apple make me feel very secure.
Everyone is different. I hate ads, so if I'm doing something, even if it's looking for a product I wish to buy, I don't want to see ads.

Why? Because I won't be pushed. You can make me go from zero to white hot, all consuming rage in nothing flat by trying to push me. And that's what ads do.

And 9 times out of 10, the product being pushed at me is garbage. So now you're pushing me to spend my money on garbage.

No.
 
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unrigestered

Suspended
Jun 17, 2022
879
840
i just hope they will use some better "AI" than they do for the Safari URL auto-fill, which is by far the most useless thing i've ever seen and gives me incorrect results at least 90% of the time, while "stupid" stuff from the competitors simply give perfect results with just the first or second letter.

but even "good" AI will surely give some incorrect assessments, regarding photo evaluations

i also wouldn't be surprised if people already had been tagged "enemy to the system #1" by some harmless google searches to understand some reports about criminal acts better
 

Madhatter32

macrumors 65816
Apr 17, 2020
1,469
2,934
Apple is definitely more focused on privacy on a relative basis compared to Google, Twitter, etc. Apple also is more security focused on a relative basis compared to Microsoft and other computer manufacturers. So, for me, it's and obvious yes vote.
 

Gk200062YVR

macrumors regular
May 31, 2022
144
105
San Jose, CA
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/21/technology/google-surveillance-toddler-photo.html

For all those people that can't wait for a major privacy intrusion caled CSAM, this story is a great example of what people like me are warning about and how the deep scanning of our lifes won't change anything regarding the actual crime. This is exactly the case which we discussed here and some people still said that it can't happen because Apple is comparing the hashes, etc.. Well, it's true that Google is using different approach but this story can tell you how every piece of technology can be and is faulty. And imagine how it could destroy your life if some major company will call you a criminal. Even though is isn't true the label will stay with you possibly forever.
That is because our federal government asking Apple to stop becoming a company that allows child sexual photos to circulate. That is the FBI and local police job, not Apple.
 

moons_mooniverse

Cancelled
Original poster
Aug 21, 2022
34
79
I'm curious about this claim. Do you have a reference on this?
Sure. Just check Apple Note’s App Privacy in the App Store.
 

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russell_314

macrumors 604
Feb 10, 2019
6,640
10,228
USA
It’s a business strategy only.

Wait you mean big corporations do things for a business strategy instead of trying to be charitable or “good”? No way! I can’t believe that (This is sarcasm just in case you can’t tell)

The thing is Apple sells privacy regardless of the motivation. Yes the motivation is about money but who cares. Just like their biggest competitor, Google’s motivation is about money when it comes to selling everything you do.

Do I believe Apple is really serious about privacy? Heck no! If they did they wouldn’t have added hidden scanning to your device. Regardless of the alleged motivation that is privacy flushed down the toilet.

Do I still buy Apple products? Absolutely just look at my signature here. What is the alternative? You have Microsoft that by default captures your keystrokes on Windows and android that is controlled by Google, the biggest advertising corporation in the world. If you’re serious about privacy you’re probably running some version of a De-Googled android phone along with Linux on your computer. This approach has some serious inconveniences that not everyone is willing to live with. You just have to make your choices as to what it’s worth for you.
 

Lounge vibes 05

macrumors 68040
May 30, 2016
3,858
11,109
Of course Apple is a company and a lot of the things they say is pure marketing speak.
But I truly believe that there are plenty of top level executives in the company who truly believe in all of the privacy statements they make.
In fact, there’s been reports about it, employees trying to push for more privacy measures, other employees pushing back.
Obviously profit is king, but as long as people like Craig are at the company, I don’t think there’s any chance of them turning into the next Google or Facebook.
 

Gk200062YVR

macrumors regular
May 31, 2022
144
105
San Jose, CA
Of course Apple is a company and a lot of the things they say is pure marketing speak.
But I truly believe that there are plenty of top level executives in the company who truly believe in all of the privacy statements they make.
In fact, there’s been reports about it, employees trying to push for more privacy measures, other employees pushing back.
Obviously profit is king, but as long as people like Craig are at the company, I don’t think there’s any chance of them turning into the next Google or Facebook.
Craig is not an Adman; he is a software developer by training.
 

Feyl

Cancelled
Aug 24, 2013
964
1,951
That is because our federal government asking Apple to stop becoming a company that allows child sexual photos to circulate. That is the FBI and local police job, not Apple.
And you can totally trust your government intentions, right? It’s not like they asked Apple to make a backdoor for them.
 
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unrigestered

Suspended
Jun 17, 2022
879
840
it also depends under which government you are living in.
in some countries, you might be considered a terrorist if you just say that you think the government did something wrong, or even just questionable.
and this could change too, even in countries where we're not having such problems
 

Feyl

Cancelled
Aug 24, 2013
964
1,951
Congress passed the law some time ago about child pron prevention.
We can go through this rabbit hole. Again, you can trust your government about their intentions. And I feel you. But you have to look at all the cases of your government officials who break laws all the time and get away with it. But feel free to trust your government.
 
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Gk200062YVR

macrumors regular
May 31, 2022
144
105
San Jose, CA
it also depends under which government you are living in.
in some countries, you might be considered a terrorist if you just say that you think the government did something wrong, or even just questionable.
and this could change too, even in countries where we're not having such problems
Exactly. Hong Kong and the USA. NSL and CHild porn laws respectively are making residents mad.
 

Gk200062YVR

macrumors regular
May 31, 2022
144
105
San Jose, CA
We can go through this rabbit hole. Again, you can trust your government about their intentions. And I feel you. But you have to look at all the cases of your government officials who break laws all the time and get away with it. But feel free to trust your government.
Repeal that stupid law. Apple should not be doing law enforcement jobs.
 
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Fatus_Asticus

macrumors 6502
Oct 24, 2021
281
252
What happened when Apple initiated the privacy changes for app tracking? Companies like Facebook saw immediate declines in profits and their ability to track and advertise to users.

Compared to what? I can go to Google's platform Android and give even more information not only to Google but everyone else?

I wouldn't say Apple is the least bad option, I'd say Apple is still a very good option as far as privacy is concerned. Maybe that will change in the future but for now, yes, they are privacy focused.
 
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Gk200062YVR

macrumors regular
May 31, 2022
144
105
San Jose, CA
What happened when Apple initiated the privacy changes for app tracking? Companies like Facebook saw immediate declines in profits and their ability to track and advertise to users.

Compared to what? I can go to Google's platform Android and give even more information not only to Google but everyone else?

I wouldn't say Apple is the least bad option, I'd say Apple is still a very good option as far as privacy is concerned. Maybe that will change in the future but for now, yes, they are privacy focused.
Craig should be CEO of Apple - privacy things are his pet project.
 
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Weed

macrumors member
Apr 16, 2021
69
120
Of course not. The USA is a surveillance state. Government loves spying and pays businesses your money (taxes) to buy your own data.

If you trust Apple with your data it means that you don't mind Uncle Sam snooping on everything single thing you do.
 
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