Apple’s revised privacy policy states: “To provide location-based services on Apple products, Apple and our partners and licensees may collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device. This location data is collected anonymously in a form that does not personally identify you and is used by Apple and our partners and licensees to provide and improve location-based products and services.”
Boulton reports, “This has Reps. Markey and Barton, who co-chair the House Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus, concerned. ‘Given the limited ability of Apple users to opt out of the revised policy and still be able to take advantage of the features of their Apple products, we are concerned about the impact the collection of such data could have on the privacy of Apple’s customers,’ the Congressmen wrote in the letter.”
Boulton reports, “The lawmakers want to better understand Apple’s data collection practices and their potential impact on consumers, as well as public policy implications of the data usage.”
Full article, including Markey’s and Barton’s questions, for which they demand answers from Apple by July 12, here.
@ rplat
“A confrontation between the brilliance of Jobs and these idiot politicians roughly equates to a salamander challenging lion.”
Or as David Pogue said about the iPhone 4 and its competitors, like a gnat versus an elephant.
@The Mac That Roared
*I* understand the technology and I *still* should have the right to choose whether or not I divulge to Apple my whereabouts.
@Luke
I can not buy an iPhone in the state where I live. But that doesn’t mean I should think its a wonderful thing for Apple to trample over our privacy rights. And don’t tell me to get an Android phone. Google’s doing the same blasted thing, and it’s just as evil on their part.
@Hg Wells
Considering the influence corporations have over governmental elements, we DO need to be protected from them as well via our Bill of constitutional rights.
@bildad
There IS NO Opt-Out functionality from Apple’s location tracking, only from targeted advertising.
Sorry guys, I love Apple too, but this is really creepy. I agree that there should be an investigation into this. Google too. I’m not comfortable giving up my information like that either.
@Rainbownation
What’s equally as creepy is Apple’s palling around with Facebook in opposition to Google. That’s no “alternative”. Facebook is logging the IP address of every computer/device in the world as we travel from one website to the other. How? With the scripts attached to those cute little Like buttons and Social plugins, WHETHER OR NOT the user engages the software.
Facebook’s monitoring our whereabouts online. Apple is monitoring our whereabouts off line but with our phones.
Welcome to 1984.
Just turn off location services. No big deal.
@ TheConfuzed1:
Tell us all how we can be certain that these “services” are off?