Apple updates privacy policy
On June 21, 2010, Apple updated its privacy policy making it easier for the company, its partners and licensees to "collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device."
Location-based services are becoming big business in everything from mobile advertising to on-demand multimedia services. Individuals can already use applications such as Clip Mobile’s coupon application to receive deals, sign into FourSquare to let their social networks know where they are, and get turn-by-turn navigation details on their smartphones.
Apple maintains that the location-based data collected by Apple will be anonymous, and will be used only to offer specialized location-based services to its users.
The changes have prompted two Congressmen (Texas Republican Joe Barton, co-chairman of the House Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus and Massachusetts Democrat Edward Markey) to write a joint letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, asking him to explain the changes made by the company to its user privacy policy by 12 July.
The changes will affect nearly all Apple-users as individuals must agree to the new privacy policy in order to download anything from the iTunes store. There currently appears to be no way to opt-out of this data collection without giving up the ability to download apps.
