T-Mobile blames Apple for iCloud Phone Relay block on iPhones

AppleInsider

T-Mobile has responded to allegations it was blocking Apple's iCloud Private Relay feature, by claiming it was a settings issue, not a change in policy.

Reports circulated on Monday that some iPhone users on T-Mobile were discovering a message stating that "Private Relay is turned off for your cellular plan," as it didn't support Apple's privacy service. In a response on Tuesday sent to AppleInsider, the carrier attempts to set the record straight, and that it didn't purposefully turn it off for some subscribers.

"Our team identified that in the 15.2 iOS release, some device settings default to the feature being toggled off," the statement reads. "We have shared this with Apple."

The statement concludes that "this is not specific to T-Mobile" and adds that "we have not broadly blocked iCloud Phone Relay."

The social media circulation of the message followed after U.K. carriers including T-Mobile, Vodafone, Telefonica, and others wrote a letter claiming Private Relay undermines "digital sovereignty" and hurts their ability to manage networks. The group believes Private Relay and similar features can cut off "other networks and servers from accessing vital network data and metadata, including those operators in charge of the connectivity."

A number of carriers in Europe also blocked Private Relay for data collection reasons.

Read on AppleInsider

lowededwookie

A number of carriers in Europe also blocked Private Relay for data collection reasons. 

This to me seems like the most likely reason that the big 4 are complaining. The interesting thing is the complainers are UK companies (except Telefonica) and yet the UK is no longer part of the EU.

But to block Private Relay in order to collect data undermines the EU's stance on privacy as the users have no option to opt out of this.

It really does seems like the EU are the most hypocritical cow-towing governing body on the planet.

ionicle

There is no more T-mobile in the UK, years ago, T-mobile and Orange merged to form EE, so there is only EE, 3 (Three), Vodafone and O2 (Telefonica) (formally BT Cellnet), T-mobile only apeared in the UK after purchasing one2one, one of the original mobile phone networks

williamlondon

lowededwookie said:

A number of carriers in Europe also blocked Private Relay for data collection reasons. 

This to me seems like the most likely reason that the big 4 are complaining. The interesting thing is the complainers are UK companies (except Telefonica) and yet the UK is no longer part of the EU.

But to block Private Relay in order to collect data undermines the EU's stance on privacy as the users have no option to opt out of this.

It really does seems like the EU are the most hypocritical cow-towing governing body on the planet.

Not sure why you've introduced the EU into this discussion as it has nothing whatsoever to do with the EU, other than to opportunistically and gratuitously attack them for some perceived slight?

geekmee

“The group believes Private Relay and similar features can cut off "other networks and servers from accessing vital network data and metadata, including those operators in charge of the connectivity."

I am sure this is news to Apple and their legal team.

Ofer

lowededwookie said:

A number of carriers in Europe also blocked Private Relay for data collection reasons. 

This to me seems like the most likely reason that the big 4 are complaining. The interesting thing is the complainers are UK companies (except Telefonica) and yet the UK is no longer part of the EU.

But to block Private Relay in order to collect data undermines the EU's stance on privacy as the users have no option to opt out of this.

It really does seems like the EU are the most hypocritical cow-towing governing body on the planet.

Since do independent phone companies = “the EU” ?

crowley

lowededwookie said:

The interesting thing is the complainers are UK companies (except Telefonica) and yet the UK is no longer part of the EU.

While all of the listed carriers have some presence in the UK only Vodafone is a UK headquartered company.  I think this article is probably wrong, the original article linked makes no mention of the UK, and as you say it would make little sense for the UK arms of those companies to be complaining to the EU.  All the carriers will also have a presence throughout the EU, so it'll be the main organisations, so Spanish Telefonica, German Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile), French Orange and British Vodafone.

lowededwookie said:

But to block Private Relay in order to collect data undermines the EU's stance on privacy as the users have no option to opt out of this.

I think the point (not that I agree, or have much of an opinion on it) is that if Private Relay means user data is being routed outside of the EU then that may present a data vulnerability and potential loss of control for the user, and probably also for any relevant authorities.  The EU already has rules that can mandate organisations store certain user data in datacentres within the bloc, rather than overseas, so it makes some sense that they might be uneasy about Apple introducing a service that potentially bounces data around the world through unknown servers in unknown places before it settles.  That's the play the carriers are making with "Digital Sovereignty", that Apple's offering require trust in Apple, and the EU are not predisposed to trust without verification.

Apple could probably avoid a hoo-hah by employing third parties for the second leg of Private Relay from within the EU.  Hell, if they engaged with those carriers to provide some of those services then maybe everyone would be happy.

lowededwookie said:

It really does seems like the EU are the most hypocritical cow-towing governing body on the planet.

Not sure why you'd say that, they haven't done anything yet, other than receive a letter.