Gerrymander: To re-draw the boundaries of districts to give a party an undue advantage
|
|
|
Apple demands the right to stalk Iphone fanbois
CONTROL FREAK outfit Apple has demanded the right to stalk its customers and know exactly where they are at all times.
According to the LA Times, Apple is collecting the "precise", "real-time geographic location" of its users' Iphones, Ipads and computers.
It has updated its privacy policy so that users have to agree to allow Apple and unspecified "partners and licensees" to collect and share all this data, including what they are buying.
If a user downloads apps or media from the Itunes store, they are prompted to agree to the new terms and conditions. If they don't agree then they are forbidden from buying anything in Steve Jobs' walled garden of delights.
Apple insists that the data is anonymous and does not personally identify users, however we have heard that before. Analysts have shown that large, specific data sets can be used to identify people based on behaviour patterns.
Apple says in its privacy policy that it uses personal information to "improve our services, content, and advertising."
The update to the privacy policy does not specify which partners or licensees Apple will share the data with or how long the data will be kept. This would be illegal in the EU so we wonder how Jobs' Mob will get around it.
It is looking like it could tell the EU that users can opt out of it. Apple has added a "Location Services" page under Settings-General that allows users to prevent apps from using location information.
However, this only stops add-on applications and there is nothing to stop Apple itself from gathering, storing and selling users' location data.
While many Apple fanbois might love it that Steve Jobs wants to know their every move, this latest bit of news makes Apple's famous 1984 ad look more like a prophecy about where Jobs Mob was headed rather than a dig at IBM or Microsoft.
It seems that Apple's desire for control is getting crazier and crazier. µ
Share this:
Share
This means that Apple has the right to track government and military officials.
This poses a serious national security risk. This will be valuable information to a hacker (and trust me hackers want to watch your every move and are always testing vulnerabilities) who can track military and government personnel all around the world.
Good luck with this one Apple. This sets a very dangerous precedence.
I think that in recent weeks, we've started to see Steve Jobs show the true horror of Apple...
Forget it. Steve Jobs is totally Irony deaf.
if the a democratic government where to do this, a civil war would break out.
People have given their lives to protect us from things like this.
Most newsworthy article posted on here since Charlie left for greener pastures.
Darn I just agreed to the new agreement a minute ago when I tried to download the Windows Live Messenger.
It is ironic their comercial from ages ago. They have become exactly what they told us to fear from the likes of MS and IBM. If we don't agree to their terms them we should get a refund since we are forced to sign a contract with a business partner.
They are truly making people want to jail break the phone and have freedom from their constant changes in terms. Too bad we cannot revolt the way the facebook users revolded.
I smell a class action law suite bruing at least. I'm on board anyone else.
Instead, but then Google has been collecting location data from Andriod phones for a while now
I'm not sure about other brands reporting GPS data, but ANY cellphone can be tracked. If you don't want people to know where you are then turn off the cell radio or don't carry one, otherwise you're out of luck. Welcome to the 21st century.
First, the world of advertising has always been a hit and miss based on regional advertising. Second, there should never be a reason for anyone to accept this. This is just a whittling away at your privacy. You can't opt out of it, period. Even if you turn off location aware capabilities of your device, there is still the question of whether Apple is able to collect this information anyway.
On top of that this is exactly what Apple has decided to restrict developers from adding to their products. They can't participate in any ad network where they collect analytics (such as where you are). Right now the regulatory agencies are currently looking at Apple. Apple is just smart enough to know that our regulatory agencies are inept at quick action and they can get this into gear and moving ahead while they wrestle with the regulators.
Stop buying Apple products. That's the simple answer. Don't install Apple software (iTunes and Safari). Don't buy music from Apple's stores. Switch to an open cell OS such as Android. In the end you'll be better off as Android kick in and begins to dwarf Apple.
I dunno guys, I can't walk ANYWHERE in London without being videotaped, and near as I can tell people don't mind. How exactly is this REALLY any different?
What do you think all gps software does.
What apple is doing is stating that you will always be prompted and have to agree before such information's taken. It then points out clearly what is happening when you say ok.
This is a good thing on any platform will do the same thing, but they may not point it out.
If you don't want that information transmitted, say no when prompted.
I see the SJ-Fan club have found the article and are here to tell us how Apple are being realy kind by tracking everything we do. Just think, next time an iTard iser gets lost all he has to do is phone the Apple help desk (premium rate number of course) and ask
"Where am I?"
only to be given the reply of
"Your only 1 mile from the nearest Apple store, why not go and buy something that you don't need... Steve will love you just a little bit more if you do this!"
@jw: No big deal, eh? Well, a tracking cookie from a website is in no way equivalent, because Apple has the exact ID of customers.
It's interesting, in a morbid way, to watch all the mechanisms of a truly comprehensive automated police state being put in place. I suppose everyone here knows that *every* current cell phone reports its position by GPS and can be turned on remotely to eavesdrop. But, you actually *pay* to put this spy in your pocket, with child-like faith that it could *never* be used by evil people.
This isn't any different than most people addicted to something called "twitter". In Twitter, you tell everyone everything you are doing and thinking anyway, you might as well tell them where you are just to make it a trifecta.
Everybody collects user information these days. I bet this site tracked every user that read this article, where did they come from and where did they go, local and any other info they could grub their hands on.
I Apple does something malicious with this information, can't I just count on this fine publication to report it for me ? I cannot believe they would miss an opportunity like that.
PS. To think that Apple would risk their current position by lying to users and not keeping info anonymous is just silly ... even more so considering the scrutiny they are under.
New from Apple the iPoo
Apple collects and analyses this "matter" to make sure they supply the correct iAds for the discerning Apple "consumer"....
You mean isnt it time that the INQ started reporting positive Apple stories like the US press and then you will not have to challenge your Stockhausen Syndrome for wasting money on a product where the user shafts you and expect you to praise them for it. Funny how every other advertising outfit has NEVER needed to know where their customers are 24/7? What makes Apple different? This is all about control Steve can't cope with random elements inside his locked in world.
Apple are traditionally known for creating user experiences (many of which involve products like the iPhone, iPad, Mac etc). Recently, they've moved into the Ad business. This is new for them, but it's not new to the tech industry.
Without location-aware advertising the Internet would be a mess. Google has played a large part in keeping ads relevant, which is all thanks to collecting potentially sensitive data about users.
Apple's move to do the same is not a threat to consumers - it's an improvement to their user experience.
Isn't it time The Inquirer employed some journalists who understood the industry they report on?
... it is really hard find a "keyhole" in the dark.
Just take one little iPhone... where's my precious?
Applespeak translations
1. 'real-time geographic location of its users': Global program to track the movements and activities of government officials, competitors and others to defend itself from future anti-trust and anti- competition investigations. You say blackmail, we say business stategy.
2. Privacy policy: There's a sucker born every minute.
3. 1984 novel: Bible
4. "improve our services, content, and advertising.": Improve our ability to bleed you dry and have you thank us for it.
5. Illegal: Opportunity for enrichment
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that Apple isn't out to get me!
I hope they find my life more interesting than I do!
As a dedicated anti-capitalist and revolutionary communist I view Apple's data collection as a safeguard. I just hope Apple have the decency to inform my relatives if and when I suddenly without warning go 'missing' and then direct said family to where the 'Security Forces' have dumped my corpse. I suppose I will have to swallow my iThingy before the inevitable knock on the door at 2am. Then again I've been swallowing capitalist bullshit for years.
Now Steve Jobs knows I'm reading this article at work. I'm doomed!