The head of the antitrust investigation into Big Tech, Rep. David N. Cicilline (D-RI) is concerned that Apple may be using its privacy measures to hide anti-competitive behavior (via Washington Post).
Privacy
An example of this is when Apple strengthened location-blocking measures in iOS. Itās now more difficult for apps to track you in the background, at least when it comes to third-party apps. Appleās own apps can use your location in this manner but iOS doesnāt give you the same alerts for these first-party apps.
Although Apple users can go into settings and limit what data Appleās apps collect, itās a multi-step process that many probably wonāt do, or wonāt know how to do. The main concern is that this gives Apple an advantage over competitors, adding new features to iOS that use location without asking users for additional permissions.
Another example given is Tile, maker of Bluetooth tracking devices. The companyās app now canāt ask for location tracking that constantly works in the background. But Appleās app Find My defaults to offline finding and other tracking features. Presumably, Appleās rumored Tile competitor called Tag would work the same, which goes back to the concern that Apple uses this to give itself an edge over competitors.
Further Reading:
[Apple Staff Support Tim Cookās Trump Strategy]
[Inactive Twitter Accounts to be Removed in December]
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I’m reminded of the phrase “Can’t fix stupid”.
Seems to fit quite a few of them these days. Maybe Elon Musk will offer some freebie tickets on his 1-way trip to Mars. (not sure yet, whether I want them for me, or for “Stupid”, though).
Oh sweet baby jesus I’m sick of these preening fake pious politicians. Yea, keeping user data private is the problem, not do nothing scumbag politicians wasting our money. I’m hoping there is a 10th circle of hell, just for the politicians.
The eighth circle, fraud, has a separate bolgia for corrupt politicians.
Yes, I have in fact had a friend stop in the middle of a conversation and ask āhow in the f*** do you know these things?ā
?āāļø
Will SOMEONE please send these people a copy of the Aesops fable about the Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs? Before they do some serious damage.