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Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

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Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#401

Post by [deleted] »

burtonator wrote: post #301
burtonator wrote: post #258

I'd like to think I'm one of the good guys here. I was one of the inventors of RSS and Atom and worked to push open content and social media. I started a social data search platform named Datastreamer ( http://www.datastreamer.io/ ) which is basically a petabyte-scale content indexing engine. We provide API feeds to search engines and social media analytics companies needing bulk data but don't want to have to build…

By other companies I mean companies like Cambridge Analytica. There are tons of other shady companies out there doing nefarious things with your data. We're going to need platforms that support group encryption and better security for apps.

[deleted]

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#402

Post by writepub »

And how would this announcement have looked if Apple's iAd platform actually succeeded?

While the weaponization of data is a legitimate cause for concern, Apple - the company that maintains a score on you - is hardly the one to be believed as a defender of your data or privacy

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#403

Post by Fnoord »

Kaveren wrote: post #381
Fnoord wrote: post #359

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hello FOMO. I grew up in a world where I had to pay by the minute to access the internet or use a phone. I did not have access to a computer 24/7. Not having/using/carrying a smartphone is a conscious decision one can make with positive and negative aspects. Bruce Schneier points that out in his book Data and Goliath.

Not having a smartphone is much easier to do when you have regular access to a decent laptop or desktop. Many people in developing countries do not. There is nothing "FOMO" about Internet access, it is extremely important. The world changed a lot from where we were 30 years ago. The advantages of having a computer you can bring with you (be that a laptop, tablet, or phone) are enormous. This is why I consider implyin…

Internet access is important, but not a panacea without any disadvantages. Furthermore, a smartphone assumes a device with GSM and data while an other device with on-demand WLAN (such as a cheap tablet) might suffice.

TL;DR if you mean computers and internet access instead of smartphones, use the correct terminology.

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#404

Post by PascLeRasc »

jimbokun wrote: post #362
tinco wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps it is cynicism, but I'm pretty sure this is just Apple exploiting a competitive edge, and does not necessarily reflect his own opinion, he is speaking to benefit the company. Of course, it's very nice that Apple made the decision to pick this edge, but they did it because they could not compete with Google on web services. So now they're publicly speaking to try and take the sting out of Google's edge. And th…

Apple is also the only major computing player that doesn't make its revenue primarily off of mining and exploiting user data. Maybe Microsoft, too? Certainly the rest of FAANG have huge financial temptations to misuse their data. So Apple is the one big technology player whose interests are most closely aligned with the consumer in terms of supporting data privacy.

Microsoft "lets you choose" between seeing ads and seeing targeted ads during setup. They're a joke.

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#405

Post by kylnew »

stephenr wrote: post #241
kylnew wrote: post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if they could make a whole new company/brand that’s competes at the low end. If it ran iOS though, would that be enough to cannibalize too many iPhone users than would be acceptable? Wondering if they could accomplish the same thing many car brands do i.e. Honda Acura

Apples 'cheap' iPhone is last years (or the year before). And it works, because unlike most Android devices that get very few updates, with long delays (or no updates, ever, for the very cheap devices), they support devices with newer OS releases. A 5S will still run the latest iOS.

I agree that appears to be the way they are going. If they are working to extend the life of devices even further in coming years that seems to support this direction.

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#406

Post by ectospheno »

lern_too_spel wrote: post #350
spery wrote: post #323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is farm from the solution you present it to be. Opt out of google maps history and try the maps search for few days. Then turn it on again and compare the results. I've even had 'Saved Places' not render without search history being enabled. My next phone will sadly be an IPhone. Not because I love apple(I don't), but just because I'm quitting google.

Search for places requires knowing your current location to give you the most relevant results. Google would have the same information if you used Google Maps on iPhone. The difference is that on Android, it is possible to set a default maps app that is entirely local, which means that Android wins on privacy for location tracking. (This is before even considering that AGPS location data collection is mandatory on iO…

You can only claim with a straight face that android wins on privacy if you completely ignore google. But since you can only do that in theory land it rings hollow.

Besides, most people upload their photos without removing exif data which makes your photo archive the best tracker - every place you went that you cared about at all. Most people also keep pictures forever. You an count the people who opt out of cloud storage for photos on one hand...

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#407

Post by ianamartin »

parthdesai wrote: post #242
tinco wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps it is cynicism, but I'm pretty sure this is just Apple exploiting a competitive edge, and does not necessarily reflect his own opinion, he is speaking to benefit the company. Of course, it's very nice that Apple made the decision to pick this edge, but they did it because they could not compete with Google on web services. So now they're publicly speaking to try and take the sting out of Google's edge. And th…

I'm always baffled how even the tech-literate crowd here continues to give Apple a pass. This is the same Apple that gave up its encryptions keys to Chinese government for the servers located in China. If it actually had user's privacy in mind, it wouldn't give those up.

Apple didn't hand over any encryption keys. They are stored on Chinese servers, per Chinese law.

Apple can't legally protect Chinese users from their government the way it can in this country--for now at, least. But Apple can protect Chinese users from other malicious actors.

From Apple's point of view, it was either refuse to follow the law and leave all Chinese users to the general security and privacy shitshow that is what every other phonemaker has to offer, or, play by the rules and give them something that's better in every use case except for the one where their government wants to hurt them.

Your argument is that locking your door can't stop a SWAT team from breaking into your house, therefore people selling locks don't care about keeping your house locked. It's a weirdly simplistic and uninformed argument coming from someone who claims to be tech-literate.

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#408

Post by spery »

lern_too_spel wrote: post #350
spery wrote: post #323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is farm from the solution you present it to be. Opt out of google maps history and try the maps search for few days. Then turn it on again and compare the results. I've even had 'Saved Places' not render without search history being enabled. My next phone will sadly be an IPhone. Not because I love apple(I don't), but just because I'm quitting google.

Search for places requires knowing your current location to give you the most relevant results. Google would have the same information if you used Google Maps on iPhone. The difference is that on Android, it is possible to set a default maps app that is entirely local, which means that Android wins on privacy for location tracking. (This is before even considering that AGPS location data collection is mandatory on iO…

Search knew my current location. I was referring to Search History.

Re: Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

#410

Post by Apocryphon »

varjag wrote: post #59
pluma wrote: post #53

I read this as "military industrial complex" and was positively surprised to see such a strong sociopolitical statement coming from Tim Cook, then I noticed the article talks about "data industrial complex" and realised this is still tame enough to count as aggressive marketing.

Apple can effect data industrial complex, unlike the military industrial complex. Doing the opposite would be empty posturing.

They could've allowed drone strike apps to remain on their store:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/sep/30/apple-rem...

Ironically and darkly, they allow this game where you conduct drone strikes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drone-shadow-strike/id824808...

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