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Apple CEO Tim Cook Says Giving Up Your Data For Better Services is 'a Bunch of Bunk' (washingtonpost.com)
Apple chief executive Tim Cook urged consumers not to believe the dominant tech industry narrative that the data collected about them will lead to better services. From a report: In an interview with "Vice News Tonight" that aired Tuesday, Cook highlighted his company's commitment to user privacy, positioning Apple's business as one that stands apart from tech giants that compile massive amounts of personal data and sell the ability to target users through advertising [The link may be paywalled; alternative source]. "The narrative that some companies will try to get you to believe is: I've got to take all of our data to make my service better," he said. "Well, don't believe them. Whoever's telling you that, it's a bunch of bunk." [...] Cook said in the interview that he is "exceedingly optimistic" that the topic of data privacy has reached an elevated level of public debate. "When the free market doesn't produce a result that's great for society you have to ask yourself what do we need to do. And I think some level of government regulation is important to come out on that."
but your data is sold to compensate for it.
No it's not. Google has never sold anyone's data, much like Coke doesn't sell recipes for fizzy drinks and Apple doesn't sell engineering drawings.
Google sells access. Access to your eyeballs and access to aggregated statistics.
It's not BS. Giving your data to corporations because they tell you it's good for you is stupid. Do not trust corporations! (including Apple) Keep your data to yourself, even if some company whines that this hurts their profits.
I'm an Apple fanboy, and I use YouTube on the regular with out logging in or giving up any personal info. Occasionally Maps, too.
Thing is that most people don't realize how much data they collect. If your kid is a contact in your phone, Google, Facebook et al has tons of info on him/her, even if they don't have a Google or Facebook account.
Conservatively, Twitter has 1000 employees (likely more like 2500-3000.) What do you think all those people are doing? Even with the millions of users' data they have, it would take like three people to run that place if all they had was your basic info. It can't possible take more than seven people to develop their apps.