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Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

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Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#281
post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're constantly pushing you to upload your data to ICloud as well -- I apparently must have consented to upload an entire backup of my phone there recently, because I can't remember saying yes to this, but there it is. So even if my data was private while it was on my phone, it's not any more.

There is nothing forcing you to back up to iCloud and yes it does ask you. You can still as of now back up using iTunes.

Or not back up at all, if you like making poor choices.

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#282

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Needing to raise money kind of means they aren’t profitable. As far as the “VPN market” according to the link, they are mostly referring to businesses using VPNs in the enterprise not individual users.

Needing to raise money means they don't have the luxury of volume to produce any product and that it is a risky business. Having raised the money, though, is proof that they are indeed profitable.

Unless I misunderstand you, this is not correct. Uber, for example, has raised billions of dollars and has never made so much as a cent of profit.

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thriving may be a bit strong - These are small potatoes compared to apple, sure, but these are tech obsessed people buying privacy orientated products. Librem 5 raised over $2.1 million https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/10/purism-librem-5-crowdfun... The VPN market is measured in the billions. https://www.statista.com/statistics/542817/worldwide-virtual... People spend money in this area. The privacy orientated crowd…

There are enough sponsored videos on YouTube tech channels by vpn providers that I think it’s safe to concede individuals are paying for those services. The other products and services mentioned don’t seem to be prospering the same way.

Are most people using VPNs for privacy? Every individual I know that pays for one does it so they can watch TV in a different country or something similar.

There's also lots of businesses that use them for accessing internal networks externally.

I've never met anyone in real life that is using one for privacy reasons.

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#284
post #268

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your note seems not relevant to what misleading is. Please elaborate.

It's not relevant to my point, which is just about what the regulator is likely to do: That's been answered. For what "misleading is", see Article 2 (b) and especially Article 3 of Directive 2006/114/EC.

In this verdict [0] of 18-02-2019 the Dutch Advertising Board came to the verdict Misleading "is de uiting misleidend en daardoor oneerlijk in de zin van artikel 7 NRC.". Are you stating that the Misleading verdict can not been given in EU countries in B2C advertisements?

[0] https://www.reclamecode.nl/uitspraken/resultaten/huishouden-...

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#285

Apple delivers privacy from 3rd party developers and at the same time retains all that user data for itself, shoring up its unfair competitive advantage as a non-neutral-platform who makes major forays into its partners’ businesses. Eg health apps, maps, news, podcasts, imusic, etc, etc.

Health data is end-to-end encrypted.

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do they have an option? It was my understanding that national security letters are involved.

That's not the point though. Either they can offer privacy, and have a way by which the whims of the government cannot affect that, or they can't.

That's why Apple puts so much emphasis on functions working on your phone and not in the cloud. At the keynote they said "this happens on your phone and nothing is sent to Apple" at least half a dozen times. If it's stored on your phone, it's not subject to Prism and is encrypted so the government can't pry through it at will.

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#288
post #216

Apple's strategy is simple. They want to retain control over their customers; at the same time, force the developers into relying entirely on Apple as a middle man so that they can't cut Apple out of any transactions. This way, Apple gets their cut and user's get some level of privacy. That they can get away with this arm-twisting as "privacy" is to give credit to their brand positioning.

Apple's strategy is simple because they had no strategy. They're pretty far behind with software and had no real cloud offering besides iCloud. They're doubling down on what they can do which is to convince people to avoid moving their life online. In reality, I don't think people will go back to Cloud 1.0 but at least Apple will keep companies in check while they rot away to oblivion.

> They're pretty far behind with software and had no real cloud offering besides iCloud.

Uh, what? iCloud is the umbrella term for all their cloud services. So they offer "no real cloud offering" besides all their cloud offerings?

Re: Apple is now a privacy-as-a-service company

#290
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can use Google Drive on pretty much anything. Now try using iCloud Drive on an Android...

Seriously... Even Microsoft came around to putting Office on Android. Apple? Nowhere to be seen.

Microsoft only put Office on Android after their own mobile OS failed. It's not like it was some super altruistic effort on their part.
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