German Ministress of Justice Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger lashed out against maker of locked-in consumer electronics devices Apple this weekend, after Jobs' Mob changed the terms of its data protection rules early last week.
Talking to Germany's news magazine Der Spiegel, Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger said Apple had to "immediately reveal" what data is tracked, for how long it is retained and what it is used for.
The users of iPhones and other GPS-enabled devices have to know what information is being collected on them. She went on to say it would be "unthinkable" if Apple would be creating personalised profiles. Apple had to allow German data protection officials to check Apple's databases.
Apple's changes to its terms of service included a paragraph stating it had to put further precise location data to itself and third parties, in order to be able to offer localised services. Apple also said geographic data would be gathered anonymously, without identifying users personally.
However, Apple's critics say the company doesn't clarify exactly what data it will collect, with what data sets it is connected to, nor how a user can opt out. Law boffins in Germany are currently scratching their heads to figure out if the new terms are legal under German law, or not.
Apple just wants to make life easier for me so I'll like their products and buy them.
The government wants to find a reason to assert more control over me and take more of my money.
How about T-Mobile? For that matter, every mobile service provider, which captures all this data as a matter of course? You want FUD, why not start with something right at home that your constituents can relate to?
On Apple phones, a program CAN NOT supply location information to an ad company or anybody else, without (a) explicit user permission, and (b) an on-screen reminder that location data is being accessed. But on many phones' software, any app can take this data and send it off wherever the app wishes.
On Android, an incident arose just last week where an app was capturing users' location data. This app was available on the Android Store until Google killed it; Google found out about it because the developer publicly reported what they were doing at a conference. A malicious developer could have done exactly the same, and compromised users' privacy, no problem.
Not that an actual violation of US privacy laws should concern anybody if they're not done by Apple.
Is this official actually concerned about user security, or is this just another chapter of Apple Bashing Theater?
Please see Google privacy coverage here, for starts :)
http://www.techeye.net/product/street-view