Privacy, Part Deux: Apple iPhones, iPads & More, Oh My!
“I always feel like, somebody's watching me, and I have no privacy. Whooooa-oh-oh!”
Anyone who was school age in the 80s probably remembers this catchy little ditty from Rockwell, especially with Michael Jackson singing the chorus. It seemed like the perfect companion to my latest blog post.
It’s not paranoia, somebody may very well be watching you. It depends what gadgets you are using. Who is Big Brother today? It’s none other than Apple.
As I mentioned in my last blog post on Facebook’s privacy policy, we often neglect to read the fine print in order to get whatever it is we are after – we crave that instant gratification. How often have you just clicked the “I Accept” button without reading every detail? I am certainly guilty of it.
According to some reports, Apple’s privacy policy spans 45 pages on the small iPhone screen, so it’s not likely that many people are going to do all that scrolling and read every word. But beware, you may or may not know what you are agreeing to with one simple click.
It turns out that more than 2,000 words into its privacy policy, Apple includes a passage on “Location-Based Services,” which states that Apple and its partners and licensees “may collect, use and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device.” It is reportedly collected anonymously “to provide and improve location-based products and services.” There is no option to opt-out of the Location-Based Services.
Although many of Apple’s customers don’t seem to care about this practice, Congress does. A House Judiciary Subcommittee recently began examining the matter, and the Electronic Communications Act of 1986 may be updated as a result.
Whether or not you care about it, it’s important to be aware of this practice. If you are using an Apple device, you agreed to it somewhere along the line.
