Apple Responds to iTunes Spying Allegations

daveschroeder writes "According to MacWorld and BoingBoing: 'An Apple spokesman (reliable word has it that it was Steve Jobs himself) told MacWorld that Apple discards the personal information that the iTunes Ministore transmits to Apple while you use iTunes. [...] Apple tells us that the information is not actually being collected. The data sent is used to update the MiniStore and then discarded.' Apple also has a knowledge base article, which apparently was available the day iTunes 6.0.2 was introduced, explaining the MiniStore behavior and how to disable it: 'iTunes sends data about the song selected in your library to the iTunes Music Store to provide relevant recommendations. When the MiniStore is hidden, this data is not sent to the iTunes Music Store.'" The discussion about this topic was fast and furious yesterday.

Comments

Privacy Policy

[Kefaa]

Even if they mean what they are saying today, the very existence of the data allows someone to start collecting, retaining, analyzing and suing. The Itunes privacy policy ends with:
Apple may update its privacy policy from time to time. When we change the policy in a material way a notice will be posted on our website along with the updated privacy policy.

So today they say they will not collect it. Tomorrow, as part of a RIAA lawsuit, they must collect and reveal the information. Further, the RIAA will make the case that if Apple tells anyone, it will show up on slashdot, and all of you criminals will know.

Apple should just remove the code or stop making excuses. They monitor - if you do not like it, do not buy the product. But that would sound unsympathetic to their customers, so they flounder in this legalese.

Re:Itunes Music Store Default On or Off?

[TubeSteak]

If the Itunes Music Store is defaulted to ON, this is kind of sneaky since most people do not realize how to turn it off or if Apple saves their personal data or not.

So you're trying to say Apple makes products that are so stupid simple to use... that stupid and simple people are using them?

Whatever happened to the "Mac/iPod/iTunes users are the smartest/coolest/hippest" meme?

Re:This is just fud

[BasilBrush]

Explain what harm it causes you. Otherwise this is just hysterical whining.

Re:This is just fud

[JonathanBoyd]

I don't believe I'm reading this. Sony said that they weren't collecting the information sent back from their player software and nobody believed a word they said.

Apple is not Sony. The difference in their stance on DRM alone should be an indication that they're not half as likely to mess about with customers.

Of course they are storing it, why wouldn't they? Nobody outside of Apple can prove otherwise.

If they can't prove it, then they shouldn't claim it. There's no reason to assume they're lying. If you're goign to decide that they're guilty, then why be surprised if they transmit some data and why bother to comment about a story where they say they're innocent? You're clearly not interested in discussion.

I've nothing against Apple but this new version of iTunes is Spyware pure and simple.

You're being paranoid. One click turns off the MiniStore ad even when it's on, they don't collect the data. iTunes does the minimum necessary to make recommendations to you. Calling it spyware is hyperbole and makes a poor case against genuine spyware.