Live data from Hacker News

Apple cracking down on applications that send location data to third-parties

9to5mac.com

1–10 of 129 posts

Re: Apple cracking down on applications that send location data to third-parties

#2
I'm working for years as a developer building iOS applications. Apple got so strict the last months maybe last year it's just incredible. Lots of questions about monetization and background services, they really want you to have a solid business case for background location or just don't use it.

As a consumer I'm happy they take those steps though. My privacy is worth money. Either somebody sells it and gives me a "free" OS or somebody sells me an OS and I don't "sell" my privacy.

Re: Apple cracking down on applications that send location data to third-parties

#3
post #2

I'm working for years as a developer building iOS applications. Apple got so strict the last months maybe last year it's just incredible. Lots of questions about monetization and background services, they really want you to have a solid business case for background location or just don't use it. As a consumer I'm happy they take those steps though. My privacy is worth money. Either somebody sells it and gives me a "f…

They're positioning themselves to this space. It was interesting in the sense that it never was really marketed this way (by Apple); it was just the remainder product that didn't sell out your information.

It's always good to sell a "feature" you've always had which costs you nothing.

Re: Apple cracking down on applications that send location data to third-parties

#5
post #3
post #2

I'm working for years as a developer building iOS applications. Apple got so strict the last months maybe last year it's just incredible. Lots of questions about monetization and background services, they really want you to have a solid business case for background location or just don't use it. As a consumer I'm happy they take those steps though. My privacy is worth money. Either somebody sells it and gives me a "f…

They're positioning themselves to this space. It was interesting in the sense that it never was really marketed this way (by Apple); it was just the remainder product that didn't sell out your information. It's always good to sell a "feature" you've always had which costs you nothing.

Apple always took location privacy seriously. I remember an interview between Steve Jobs and Walt Mossberg years ago on this subject. I looked it up again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39iKLwlUqBo

Re: Apple cracking down on applications that send location data to third-parties

#6
post #5
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're positioning themselves to this space. It was interesting in the sense that it never was really marketed this way (by Apple); it was just the remainder product that didn't sell out your information. It's always good to sell a "feature" you've always had which costs you nothing.

Apple always took location privacy seriously. I remember an interview between Steve Jobs and Walt Mossberg years ago on this subject. I looked it up again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39iKLwlUqBo

Explain China then.

Apple is being hypocritical in this case. Giving in to the demands of government when it hurts their business ( if it did take privacy as seriously as HN makes it out to be, they would take a stand in China) while advocating privacy in Western world.

Re: Apple cracking down on applications that send location data to third-parties

#7
They need to be much more aggressive towards apps that request access to the SSID of the current network. This is supposed to be limited, but in my experience, apps you would not expect to be doing that are doing it, and it's basically the same thing as location data.

Re: Apple cracking down on applications that send location data to third-parties

#8
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple always took location privacy seriously. I remember an interview between Steve Jobs and Walt Mossberg years ago on this subject. I looked it up again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39iKLwlUqBo

Explain China then. Apple is being hypocritical in this case. Giving in to the demands of government when it hurts their business ( if it did take privacy as seriously as HN makes it out to be, they would take a stand in China) while advocating privacy in Western world.

Like every business operating in China, Apple has to comply with local laws. And that's what they do. Everyone else who operates in China complies with them as well. Apple also complies with US laws and laws of EU.

Re: Apple cracking down on applications that send location data to third-parties

#9
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple always took location privacy seriously. I remember an interview between Steve Jobs and Walt Mossberg years ago on this subject. I looked it up again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39iKLwlUqBo

Explain China then. Apple is being hypocritical in this case. Giving in to the demands of government when it hurts their business ( if it did take privacy as seriously as HN makes it out to be, they would take a stand in China) while advocating privacy in Western world.

I can’t be the only person tired of this canard, right? It’s said over and over that the benefit of Apple is an alignment of incentives in Western markets. That is to say, Apple is not faux-idealistic, they are capitalistic, and in most places that aligns with user goals. China is the exception, but for the same reasons.

Re: Apple cracking down on applications that send location data to third-parties

#10
post #7

They need to be much more aggressive towards apps that request access to the SSID of the current network. This is supposed to be limited, but in my experience, apps you would not expect to be doing that are doing it, and it's basically the same thing as location data.

Limited? This is public and unrestricted API, to my knowledge: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/systemconfiguratio...
Post reply on HN