“As tech companies like Facebook Inc. come under fire for their data-privacy practices, Apple Inc. has one big thing working in its favor,” Emily Bary writes for MarketWatch.
“Unlike platform-based companies that sell consumer data to marketers, Apple guards user information more tightly and instead makes most of its money off hardware sales,” Bary writes. “That may not always be as profitable as monetizing user info, but it could represent a key ‘competitive advantage,’ according to UBS analyst Steven Milunovich, as Facebook and others draw further scrutiny from regulators.”
“Because those who buy Apple products pay premium prices for the hardware, Apple might not feel as much pressure to monetize information like Alphabet Inc.’s rival Android mobile operating system,” Bary writes. “Milunovich still sees room for Apple to create its own platform business by following its own rules. Earlier this year, the company announced that a forthcoming iOS update would make it easier for users to import their medical records from health-care providers and house this information on their iPhones. ‘Health appears to be an opportunity where Apple’s privacy stance could matter,’ Milunovich wrote… At the very least, easy access to new information and a reputation for keeping that information secure could become incremental selling points for joining the company’s ecosystem.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Until we see everyday people wake up about privacy, we’ll continue to believe that Apple is serving a niche market of those relative few who recognize the need for and desire the type of stringent privacy protections that Apple offers (outside of China).
SEE ALSO:
Facebook’s surveillance machine – March 21, 2018
Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg AWOL from Facebook’s damage control session – March 20, 2018
U.S. FTC reportedly probing Facebook’s abuse of personal data as UK summons Zuckerberg for questioning – March 20, 2018
The problem isn’t Cambridge Analytica: It’s Facebook – March 19, 2018
Apple: Privacy is a fundamental right – September 27, 2017
It’s past time for you to STOP USING FACEBOOK – March 19, 2018
Delete your Facebook: The only way to win the social game is not to play – March 19, 2018
How you access the super creepy data that Facebook has on you – March 12, 2018
Facebook asks users: Should we allow men to ask children for sexual images? – March 6, 2018
Study: Facebook is for old people – February 12, 2018
Mark Zuckerberg is fighting to save Facebook; announces major change to News Feed – January 12, 2018
Facebook developing ‘Portal’ gadget which will let it put microphones and cameras in people’s homes – January 11, 2018
Facebook is giving the US government more and more data – December 21, 2017
Former Facebook exec: Facebook is ‘destroying how society works’ – December 11, 2017
Apple’s cutting-edge ‘differential privacy’ is opt-in – June 24, 2016
Apple’s cutting-edge ‘differential privacy’ offers unique option for technology users – June 20, 2016
Apple’s use of cutting-edge tech will peek at user habits without violating privacy – June 16, 2016
Apple unveils iOS 10, the mother of all iOS releases – June 13, 2016
Apple previews major update with macOS Sierra – June 13, 2016
Apple seeks to use AI to keep Google off your iPhones, iPads, and Macs – June 15, 2016
Edward Snowden: Apple is a privacy pioneer – June 5, 2015
Tim Cook gets privacy and encryption: We shouldn’t surrender them to Google – June 4, 2015
Tim Cook attacks Google, U.S. federal government over right to privacy abuses – June 3, 2015
The price you’ll pay for Google’s ‘free’ photo storage – June 3, 2015
Apple CEO Tim Cook champions privacy, blasts ‘so-called free services’ – June 3, 2015
Passing on Google Photos for iOS: Read the fine print before you sign up for Google’s new Photos service – June 1, 2015
Why Apple’s Photos beats Google Photos, despite price and shortcomings – May 30, 2015
Is Apple is losing the photo wars? – May 29, 2015
How Google aims to delve deeper into users’ lives – May 29, 2015
Apple CEO Cook: Unlike some other companies, Apple won’t invade your right to privacy – March 2, 2015
Survey: People trust U.S. NSA more than Google – October 29, 2014
Edward Snowden’s privacy tips: ‘Get rid of Dropbox,” avoid Facebook and Google – October 13, 2014
Apple CEO Tim Cook ups privacy to new level, takes direct swipe at Google – September 18, 2014
Apple will no longer unlock most iPhones, iPads for government, police – even with search warrants – September 18, 2014
U.S. NSA watching, tracking phone users with Google Maps – January 28, 2014
U.S. NSA secretly infiltrated Yahoo, Google data centers worldwide, Snowden documents say – October 30, 2013
Google has already inserted some U.S. NSA code into Android – July 10, 2013
Court rules NSA doesn’t have to reveal its semi-secret relationship with Google – May 22, 2013
This is golden opportunity for Apple entering private encrypted social network service, even with reasonable subscription.
“private encrypted social network service”
OHHH, a private and encrypted way to freely share all of your personal information! Once you include the term “social network” you are, by DEFAULT indicating that you don’t care about privacy becase you EXPECT to share PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION with others.
Oh thank goodness! Facebook helped get Trump elected, and abuses millions of user’s data, but as long as that’s good for Apple it’s all worth it! I was beginning to worry….
/SSS!
If I know that Google Amy’s Apple for users, then I’m certain Ms. Bary does too.
As far as Mr. Mulonovich…. I prefer security policy based on law, not any company’s reputation alone.
If I know that Apple sells users to Google….. the Ms. Bary….
Ask someone to check you for stroke symptoms. Your comment and edit make little sense.
… he’s not okay; he’s a raving idiot.
Hey Sybil… you’re talking to yourself again.
Major autocorrect failure. On iPad no less….
If you want to be critical, take it out on WordPress for not allowing edits.
Meanwhile… go forth and multiply yourself!
You think I also posted the No … comment. I did not. I’m a nurse. Your comment was concerning.
Riiiight! I’m supposed to believe you give a …..
Can someone explain why Facebook, Google, and Twitter continue to be baked into the iOS preferences pane? Everyone claims Apple cares about your security, then they provide a handy way for you to eliminate all security from your phone with a few clicks. Dumb.
Because Facebook, google and Twitter pay them to
Yes, anyone who does so IS dumb. Social networks are all about decreasing your level of privacy and security, however many want to do so for whatever reason. For those less than intelligent folks, Apple provides the gun and the bullet. All they have to do is aim the barrel and pull the trigger.
Social networking is inherently anti-privacy. There is no foolproof encryption. Remember how super-ultra-uncrackable iPhones were supposed to be? Now there’s a box that any Joe Sheriff can buy to crack open your iPhone: https://www.macrumors.com/2018/03/15/graykey-iphone-unlocking-box/ Anything put on line can and will be revealed (including your iCloud data) it’s just a matter of time.