Apple Lays Out Location Collection Policies

itwbennett writes "In a 13-page reply (PDF) to questions from Congressmen Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Joe Barton of Texas, Apple said iPhones running OS 3.2 or iOS 4 collect GPS data and encrypt it before sending it back to Apple every 12 hours via Wi-Fi. Attached to the GPS data is a random identification number generated by the phone every 24 hours. The information is not associated with a particular customer and Apple uses the data to analyze traffic patterns and density, it said. Apple collects such data from customers who have approved the use of location-based capabilities on the phone and who actually use an application that requires GPS."

Comments

Re:Just large enough to bust bandwidth cap?

[morgan_greywolf]

No. It transfers the data via WiFi. Don't tell me you didn't even read the summary?

Re:Turn the tables!

[Neil_Brown]

True enough, but Apple is in a market that is rapidly evolving and what is "absolutely necessary" is far from settled.

Sure- I work for a company which, whilst different, is in a very similar environment. I'd rather amend and update a policy / document, as needed, with the aim of maximising clarity and relevance for any given time, than bundling everything in upfront, on the basis that it might, one day, be relevant - I don't think a consumer / user benefits from this approach.

Re:Intelligence test

[tokul]

Um, they already know where I live. That would be the address where my phone bill arrives. It's also the billing address of the credit card I used to sign up with iTunes.

you don't have to live in location where your phone bill arrives. Any sane service provider might try to reduce billing costs and deliver bills electronically. I haven't received bill for my cell in last 6 years. No paper bill for land line in last 2 years.

Re:Turn the tables!

[icebraining]

Amending stuff after people bought it is worse than having a dense legal paper upfront. What if people don't agree with your amendments? Should you be allowed to force them? I don't think you should, they already bought it and you agreed to offer them the product with that policy.

Re:Turn the tables!

[vague disclaimer]

I'd rather amend and update a policy / document, as needed, with the aim of maximising clarity and relevance for any given time,

Actually it is far from clear that Apple is doing anything different, but either way it strikes me as quite a high risk approach in a common law system.

Re:Turn the tables!

[Lars T.]

Not to mention that the Congressman apparently suffers from AADD if he can't read through a 13-page report written in more or less plain English. And, yes, I did read the linked PDF file. It wasn't exactly gripping but I had no problem getting though it.

Actually, I think he's talking about Apple's Privacy Policy - which is as long as it is due to requirements of the law.