Apple will let users download all iCloud and Apple ID data to comply with new European rul...
Apple is switching up its privacy policies to satisfy the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, which takes effect May 25 -- most notably by offering a way to download all personal data stored on Apple servers. [Updated with more details and clarification provided to AppleInsider by Apple]
The data trove will be accessible through the company's Apple ID Web portal. People will also be able to correct personal information, temporarily deactivate an account, or delete one entirely.
The options will come to Europe in early May before spreading to other regions. People were previously able to accomplish the same tasks, but typically only by contacting Apple and requesting it.
An Apple spokesperson told AppleInsider that the implementation of the EU law corresponds with Apple's privacy values, and at the same time gives the company an opportunity to provide more control over personal data. Additionally, Apple noted to us that at present, the ability to get your data, correct data, and delete an account is available currently online in various locations, or by calling AppleCare. The new initiative will consolidate the abilities in one portal.
Today's iOS and tvOS updates also include notes better detailing Apple's privacy policies, and how data is used in individual apps. New iconography highlights when an Apple app wants to share personal data.
In recent years the E.U. has often adopted a tough stance on privacy, for instance enacting a "right to be forgotten" from Google searches.
At this month's China Development Forum, Apple CEO Tim Cook called for stringent privacy safeguards -- even though the Chinese government regularly snoops on residents and now has full access to local iCloud accounts if it wants it.
The data trove will be accessible through the company's Apple ID Web portal. People will also be able to correct personal information, temporarily deactivate an account, or delete one entirely.
The options will come to Europe in early May before spreading to other regions. People were previously able to accomplish the same tasks, but typically only by contacting Apple and requesting it.
An Apple spokesperson told AppleInsider that the implementation of the EU law corresponds with Apple's privacy values, and at the same time gives the company an opportunity to provide more control over personal data. Additionally, Apple noted to us that at present, the ability to get your data, correct data, and delete an account is available currently online in various locations, or by calling AppleCare. The new initiative will consolidate the abilities in one portal.
Today's iOS and tvOS updates also include notes better detailing Apple's privacy policies, and how data is used in individual apps. New iconography highlights when an Apple app wants to share personal data.
In recent years the E.U. has often adopted a tough stance on privacy, for instance enacting a "right to be forgotten" from Google searches.
At this month's China Development Forum, Apple CEO Tim Cook called for stringent privacy safeguards -- even though the Chinese government regularly snoops on residents and now has full access to local iCloud accounts if it wants it.
Comments
Apple News still isn't in Canada.
you do know that you can change the region in Settings to US
Anyway I would think when Apple News DOES make it to Canada it will be more Canadian centric than the US version.
There's always a possibility that I'll discover after the fact a reason that it would have benefited me to leave it but at least now I'll know.
Oh and thanks for mentioning Microsoft does this too. I hadn't ever looked and had no idea. Heck that probably goes back years before even Google. Apparently I didn't really make much use of them until 2009 since the data at Google older than that was pretty sparse.
from the article it sounds like its being rolled out. first in the EU where its an actual legal issue. the slow spread is probably to avoid possible server issues if everyone tries to do it at the same time. and given what folks do to the online store on a launch night I can understand why they are cautious
As you mentioned they could take their time rolling this out elsewhere, but for PR reasons I don't expect too much delay in the US for instance.
In the meantime, it likely explains why every podunk little banana dictatorship in the world can cyber-attack us with complete abandon. We’re just too cheap as a people to invest in privacy and security.
The US is farther from that (“OMG SOCIALISM!”) than it has been at any time probably within the last century or so.