Apple Wants To Share Your Location With Others

Farhood sends in this snip from the LA Times: "In an updated version of its privacy policy, the company added a paragraph noting that once users agree, Apple and unspecified 'partners and licensees' may collect and store user location data. When users attempt to download apps or media from the iTunes store, they are prompted to agree to the new terms and conditions. Until they agree, they cannot download anything through the store. The company says the data is anonymous and does not personally identify users. Analysts have shown, however, that large, specific data sets can be used to identify people based on behavior patterns." Mashable and The Consumerist have picked up on this collection and sharing of "precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device."

Comments

Big deal

[broknstrngz]

It's as easy as clicking "I disagree" or whatever. Just don't update iTunes and you're safe. Your current version is good enough, innit?

Link bait again

[1 inch punch]

Well if the authors actually read the licensing agreement, they can choose to opt out by going to http://oo.apple.com/

And, you can always totally turn off Location Services. It's under Settings>General>Location Services.

Re:Maybe I don't need the new gen iPhone

[eV_x]

I don't believe this has anything to do with iPhone 4 - it's iOS, which you run jailbroken or not. I'm not baiting you here but why do you care about an anonymous account of your location?

Re:At least they tell you..

[furball]

By contrast, Apple gathers your information without asking you to opt in, and does not present you with the option of opting out.

ORLY?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4228

Re:Isn't this exactly what we lambaste Google for?

[jmcbain]

Call me naive, but I trust Apple. I've been using Mobile Me since late 2004. I just migrated away from the Palm phone after three years; I now have an iPhone as my primary phone. My calendar, my contacts, etc. are in the Apple cloud. And guess what? They've never done ANYTHING to erode my trust in them. In the age of telecom companies trying to cap mobile data plans, and place arbitrary restrictions on IP-delivered media content, Apple is busy trying to roll out fiber and generally make the Internet better. I believe that not only do they live by their "think different" mantra, but that they realize the days of the free Internet may be numbered. They're doing their best to save the Internet as we know it. Granted, they have something to gain. But other companies' failure to evolve leaves the door wide open for a company which we should trust far more than AT&T, Time Warner, etc. to preserve the landscape that slashdotters are so eager to protect. The tag is correct, it's a witch hunt. Apple admitted their mistake, we move on.

Re:At least they tell you..

[gig]

You have to opt-in with Apple also. It says so right in the summary.

There is also a Location Services setting on iOS devices where you can allow/disallow various apps from accessing the location features of the device.

Re:Beh

[Dishevel]

Except you can opt out at http://oo.apple.com/ on your iOS4 Device.

You are an idiot.