auxio

Meson said:

ericthehalfbee said:

Data that leaves your iPhone doesn’t mean it’s being “collected” by Apple. The article even mentions services like Continuity that require data to be transferred so devices can work together.

Further, data that leaves your device and goes to Apple doesn’t mean it’s being abused (like used for targeted ads).

There’s also a huge difference between data going to a company like Apple and someone like Meta or Google who make 98/80% of their revenue from targeted ads. They need your data to survive. To Apple your data isn’t even pocket change.

According to Statista, Apple's ad revenue is expected to be around $14 billion by 2027. Where do you think Apple is getting this data from to target ads?

I do agree that Meta and Google are crappy companies and their main revenue source is selling your data, but Apple is not completely innocent in this either.

The harsh reality of Capitalism: if you've created and are selling a product, and your competitors are able to sell the same product for cheaper because they've found ways to offset the cost of production via shady means, but no one pays attention/cares about that fact and simply picks the cheapest product, what are you to do?

It really boils down to creating complete transparency and consumers being able to make informed choices. If the vast majority of consumers are truly willing to buy a cheaper product knowing that it's essentially spying on them all the time (and where that information is going), then so be it. They've made the choice and so they can't complain about the "evil" of data harvesting.

I always like to pose the question to people: if someone offered you $1000 to place cameras and microphones all over your home, and you also had to wear one wherever you go, would you accept?

gatorguy said:

So in the opinion of commenters so far:
No one is the least bit concerned as long as their data isn't being used for ad targeting. Anything else is fair use? 

It would be ideal if there was complete transparency in what the data is being used for and whether it's personally identifiable information (PII). Given that Apple is a product company (bottom line depends on product sales and product-related services), I'm sure they'd come out looking far better than companies who are advertising, data broker, and/or AI technology funded. Though it would be interesting to see how they're using data to train their AI models which investors are so keen on these days.

I'd be willing to bet that's why government regulators like the EU aren't going after companies and mandating data collection transparency. Because, in some cases, the trail would lead back to them and there'd be a lot of questions to answer.

22july2013 said:

How can Apple support a government who murders and tortures people who believe what Tim Cook believes?

Interesting that you consider having a different sexual orientation a "belief".

Hamas executes people for being gay, and because hundreds of Palestinians have had to flee to Israel just to pursue being gay. "Sharia courts have also been set up where homosexuals are threatened with the death penalty by stoning, burning and hanging.  These courts also declare persons suspected of homosexuality to be ‘outlaws’, who can be murdered with impunity. It is also reported that the PA police regularly inflicts appalling torture on homosexuals."

Which is absolutely horrific, but still isn't justification for doing the same in turn to them.

wood1208 said:

Now we all know when and how Hamas-Israel conflict started. If Hamas did not murder innocent Israelis unaware and simply enjoying music event, this conflict would not have started.

If Apple gave permission to any employee to wear anything politically biased especially external to America, is not a good decision. When you allow to wear one thing like keffileh; he/she will wear more or do more in that direction thinking they have permission from Apple. 

Americans are not killed so none in America should be allowed to disrupt in any form American businesses in America or day to day life in America. Go to Gaza or Israel as humanitarian volunteer if you want to help.

It goes back much further than that, with wrongs committed on both sides. But I do agree that "protesting" simply by wearing things which incite anger isn't helpful. That said, one doesn't have to go to the other extreme of giving up their life to become a volunteer either. There's a middle ground to be found where we can have constructive discourse about the war, learn about history and each other, in hopes of finding a solution rather than putting more anger and judgement out there.

nubus said:

StrangeDays said:

I’m opposed to Israel’s occupation and horrific bombing campaign and systemic numerous other war crimes.

There can be no support for those electing terrorists or those supporting a government responsible for war crimes (Israel hasn't been found guilty - it is just @StrangeDays that decided Israel is guilty).

Two wrongs never make a right. If the police had tracked a murderer to an apartment building which couldn't easily be evacuated, would they be justified in demolishing the whole building? Assuming every Palestinian supports what Hamas did is the same as assuming every American would knowingly support what their government did in Iran. Generalizing about any ethnicity has devastating consequences, as the Jewish people know all too well. Yet we keep making the same mistakes.