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:Intelligence test

[whisper_jeff]

This isn't about the iPhone. All phones are capable of revealing your location. If you're concerned, as you say, about this then you need to make this not be about the iPhone because it isn't iPhone-specific. Any smartphone with a GPS has this ability. Any cellphone connected to a cell network has this ability. If this is a subject that matters to you than don't focus in on one product.