Apple Called Android a 'Massive Tracking Device' In 2013 (9to5google.com) 29
An anonymous reader quotes a report from 9to5Google: Coming out of the ongoing Google antitrust trial, an internal Apple presentation has surfaced (via The Verge) in which the company called Android a "massive tracking device." The presentation in question was regarding a push within Apple to start "Competing on Privacy." The slides, made in January 2013, dove into how Apple's competitors (Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft primarily) handled privacy matters and user data. A "privacy timeline" includes some 2000s and 2010s events that made headlines regarding privacy, such as Google's Street View cars recording private Wi-Fi networks and Instagram's aim to use user photos in its ads, as well as Google's privacy policy move to combining user data across services. Apple went on to compare how its products handle privacy differently from Google and others.
The presentation culminates in the full-page statement [...] where Apple says that "Android is a massive tracking device." The slideshow is partially redacted and abridged, which leaves out the context of this statement, but it's certainly a bold way to talk about a competitor. Of course, all mobile devices do a whole lot of tracking, whether it's Android or iOS.
The presentation culminates in the full-page statement [...] where Apple says that "Android is a massive tracking device." The slideshow is partially redacted and abridged, which leaves out the context of this statement, but it's certainly a bold way to talk about a competitor. Of course, all mobile devices do a whole lot of tracking, whether it's Android or iOS.
ROFL (Score:2, Funny)
*Looks in mirror, "Stop Pointing At ME!!!"
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
What about Snowden's slides from the NSA that show Apple willfully participates in their illegal spying operations?
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Warning, this responds to a pre-crime post. Your IP address and browser fingerprint has been sent to the appropriate agency. Do not move from your location. Your auto's ignition has been disabled and you and your pets are now being tracked. The AirTags should be glowing green, DO not touch them.
We've disabled your door camera and locked the door. An appropriate agency will be visiting you soon. DO not open the third drawer of your nightstand where you keep the Glock. The Glock has also been disabled. You ar
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Well, see, government-mandated tracking doesn't count. Whether it is legal or not.
Apple prevents a lot of the third-party tracking. At least that is what we are led to believe. There is less tracking going on with an Apple device. But not zero tracking.
We have seen news stories about government agencies setting up businesses to sell privacy-focused phones to criminal organizations and then spy on them through those phones. I recall older stories about government agencies remotely activating phones that
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Well, see, government-mandated tracking doesn't count. Whether it is legal or not.
Apple prevents a lot of the third-party tracking. At least that is what we are led to believe. There is less tracking going on with an Apple device. But not zero tracking.
We have seen news stories about government agencies setting up businesses to sell privacy-focused phones to criminal organizations and then spy on them through those phones. I recall older stories about government agencies remotely activating phones that had been turned off (not put to sleep, turned off by the user) and listening in on the conversation (to bust up a criminal gang). These stories don't get a lot of fanfare for obvious reasons.
But the only reasonable assumption is that your phone is spying on you all the time, even when off. The government has the means, motive, and opportunity. And for that matter, so do the big tech industries. Same for the hardware manufacturers. Why in the world wouldn't they spy on you? What in the world would stop them? Morality? From their perspective, morality is nothing more than a mental defect that keeps people poor.
So, whenever they claim not to be spying on you, the correct response is to assume its just another marketing lie, and decide whether or not the device is useful enough to you to be worth all the spying.
Oh, and here's a protip: they can't violate the laws of physics. A Faraday cage will block the signal. As will removing the batteries (for models that allow that).
So, Apple only enable tracking by the party most empowered to use that tracking in the most abusive way. But not tracking by commercial entities, which are less well placed to use that data to intrude in peoples every day lives.
Gotcha.
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Unless your China, then apple gives them everything.
Who's China?
Your China!
It's YOU'RE China, moron!
Differentiator (Score:1, Informative)
While it's definitely not perfect, Apple's -public- stance on tracking and personal privacy is a mile ahead of pretty much everyone else out there. Between that, and their lifetime support of their hardware, it's why I switched to Apple from Android in 2018.
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While it's definitely not perfect, Apple's -public- stance on tracking and personal privacy is a mile ahead of pretty much everyone else out there.
Which would be great if it weren't just marketing bullshit. Unfortunately, like everything Apple does, it's all just marketing.
The whole "pro-privacy" marketing started when an Apple earnings call listed as a vulnerability that Apple was falling far behind Google at using all the user data they collected. Somehow this got misreported on as Apple respecting privacy, and Apple found a new way to market their own big data failures.
Apple's more recent attempts to block third parties from "tracking" you are also
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
The whole "pro-privacy" marketing started when an Apple earnings call listed as a vulnerability that Apple was falling far behind Google at using all the user data they collected. Somehow this got misreported on as Apple respecting privacy, and Apple found a new way to market their own big data failures.
Things don't just "somehow" get "misreported" within a trillion-dollar organization and one of the largest on the planet. Can't imagine the number of hands involved in just financial reporting and validation alone. Sure as hell wasn't just Bob didn't get Alice's memo slapped on the breakroom fridge. What you perceive as a "failure" to not whore out user data would have also been viewed as a considerable market differentiator at the time, and weighed.
One company controlling the software and hardware end p
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Apple's "privacy" stance is and always has been nothing more than marketing spin.
Prove it; or SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP.
Re: (Score:2, Troll)
Apple phones home. I run Sailfish OS -- it doesn't.
But I think we can agree that Android, particularly with Play Store, is spyware.
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That's great, but it doesn't help hardly anyone. That's a niche European option.
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I think the existence of AirTags firmly puts to bed the notion that Apple cares at all about protecting peoples' privacy.
Which Platform Company Prohibits Ad Blockers?
Hint: It's not Apple!
https://www.androidauthority.c... [androidauthority.com]
https://www.androidheadlines.c... [androidheadlines.com]
https://www.androidpolice.com/... [androidpolice.com]
Actions speak louder than words. . .
That's the point (Score:3)
Google gives away AOSP to phone vendors because the business model is to hook you into Google services and track you. Scan your emails for marketing keywords. Share your browsing habits with market research. Record your location through careful collection of WiFi access point and Bluetooth scan data.
I'm not going to buy an Apple device over this, but I readily admit that Android is pretty invasive. Not as shady as Amazon/Alexi and Apple/Siri stuff. Although microphones found hidden inside of Google Nest is not a good sign of things to come.
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AOSP doesn't include Google Services. To get those you have to have a licence agreement with Google, which they don't give away. Google Play Services is not open source and cannot be distributed for free.
You can build a device that runs AOSP without Google services easily. There are open source replacements for them, such as MicroG.
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I never said AOSP comes with Google services. I said that's what Google gives it away. Once a vendor signs on with Google they get proper Android. It's more of a contractual limitation than a technical one, Mr. Wellackshully guy.
Good luck getting your Android device into a major carrier's store if it doesn't support Google services. Quite the dream you have there. The one where you think you can fail to meet basic business requirements and still have a viable product.
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Google gives away AOSP to phone vendors because the business model is to hook you into Google services and track you. Scan your emails for marketing keywords. Share your browsing habits with market research. Record your location through careful collection of WiFi access point and Bluetooth scan data.
I'm not going to buy an Apple device over this, but I readily admit that Android is pretty invasive. Not as shady as Amazon/Alexi and Apple/Siri stuff. Although microphones found hidden inside of Google Nest is not a good sign of things to come.
Don't you dare equate Alexa and Google with "Apple/Siri stuff"!
Apple does more and more language parsing and market chatacterization On Device; and many other steps are taken to separate "you" from any marketing data.
https://www.apple.com/privacy/ [apple.com]
https://www.apple.com/legal/pr... [apple.com]
PROVE this is a lie, or SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP.
That's what Google said, too! (Score:2)
Apple knows all about tracking (Score:5, Insightful)
No matter what Apple marketing says, they are at least as intrusive into users' privacy as is Google. And, they are even scanning all your files, ostensibly to detect child pornography. Both Apple and Google are entirely too nosy and intrusive. We must find a way to escape from them but many Americans seem to think access to TikTok is more important than their privacy so the situation is not likely to change anytime soon.
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No matter what Apple marketing says, they are at least as intrusive into users' privacy as is Google. And, they are even scanning all your files, ostensibly to detect child pornography. Both Apple and Google are entirely too nosy and intrusive. We must find a way to escape from them but many Americans seem to think access to TikTok is more important than their privacy so the situation is not likely to change anytime soon.
Lies.
No CSAM Scanning.
https://www.theverge.com/2022/... [theverge.com]
In fact, they're pissed at the UK over this exact thing!
https://www.bbc.com/news/techn... [bbc.com]
No Dissemination of Data.
https://www.apple.com/legal/pr... [apple.com]
I'm sick of this shit! Prove Apple is lying, or STFU!
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Me too, sick of this shit: YOU have not proven anything.
Your arguments are just politics: you don't know the arguments that Apple bashes it. It might be they want it in another way or just the fact that they want it.
As for Apple's own privacy policy...do you really believe their own statements? And I'm not single-ing out Apple here. You should NEVER trust a corporation.
This is an era of death by 1000 cuts. Some wake-up at 10th cut, others at 900th.
PS: just skimmed through that policy. Why would you allow/gi
Massive tracking device? (Score:3)
<cough> AirTags <cough cough>
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The worst part is that Apple are being dicks about not implementing the open standard for such tags that they agreed to. Google has been waiting for them to do it before releasing tags compatible with their system.
It looks like Apple is deliberately holding off until after the most lucrative retail periods this year. Which is annoying because I want some tags for my luggage.
At least Android devices can now detect Apple powered stalkers.
Lol. (Score:2)
Oh, Apple.. (Score:2)
Android is a massive tracking device. Buy AirTags here.