Coinciding with the Biden administration’s “Get the Vaccine” push, unvaccinated Apple employees will face more frequent COVID-19 testing.
Apple
Apple Once Threatened to Remove Facebook From App Store Over Human Trafficking
On Friday a report claims that Apple once threatened to remove Facebook from the App Store in 2019. The cause was human trafficking. (Original, paywalled report here).
The BBC published a sweeping undercover investigation of the practice, prompting Apple to threaten to remove Facebook from its store, the paper said.
An internal memo found that Facebook was aware of the practice even before then: A Facebook researcher wrote in a report dated 2019, “was this issue known to Facebook before BBC inquiry and Apple escalation?,” per the Journal.
Do the right thing, Apple: Remove Facebook.
Smart Bulbs vs. Smart Light Switches, Digital IDs, with Jeff Gamet - ACM 555
Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet dive back into smarthome tech, with a focus on using smart light switches instead of smart light bulbs. This includes Jeff’s recommendation for a smart light switch. They also discuss digital IDs and the perils and promise they offer.
NoSpyPhone Protests Planned at Apple Stores in Major Cities
On the eve of the 2021 Fall Apple Event on Tuesday, protests are being planned at various Apple stores to protest CSAM detection features.
Investor Tells Tim Cook - 'The Time Has Come to Change Apple’s Approach' to Antitrust
One prominent tech investor has written to CEO Tim Cook urging the company to rethink its approach to antitrust cases and regulators. Roger McNamee had his letter published by Time.
Unless Apple rethinks its approach, regulators will likely have no choice but to undermine its advantage in privacy and security. As a customer, that will piss me off. As an activist trying to reform the tech industry, it will leave me wondering what might have been. I would like to suggest a path to a better outcome. Apple is no longer the plucky upstart it was when Steve Jobs returned two decades ago. The company has a market value bigger than the GDP of all but eight countries in the world. In the trailing four quarters, your firm enjoyed a tax rate of about 14%, which has attracted the attention of Senator Warren, among others, who believe it is too low. Apple has huge economic power, which it uses for competitive advantage. Some of the victims of that economic power are fighting back, not unreasonably, and Apple’s brand with policy makers has taken a beating. The company’s reaction? One of surprise and resentment, which is not working. The time has come to change Apple’s approach.
Security Researchers are Fed Up With Apple's Bug Bounty Program
For five years Apple has invited ethical hackers to break into its products to look for flaws. But these security experts are tired of the program.
The best programs support open conversations between the hackers and the company. Apple, already known for being tight-lipped, limits communication and feedback on why it chooses to pay or not pay for a bug, according to security researchers who have submitted bugs to the bounty program and a former employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of a nondisclosure agreement.
Norfolk State University to Give Students iPad Pros Fall 2021
This fall, Norfolk State University will provide students, faculty, and staff with Apple products and training for app development.
Privacy Advocates Deliver 59,000 Petition Signatures to Apple Over CSAM Detection
Privacy advocates have delivered a petition to Apple over its plans to install a system on its devices to detect child sexual abuse material.
Digital Rights Group Responds to Apple CSAM Measures Delay
Apple’s delay to rolling out controversial measures to find known CSAM was welcomed by activists, but they want them scrapped permanently.
Apple Delays Its CSAM Scanning ‘Features’
The controversy surrounding Apple’s proposed CSAM scanning features has been noticed. The iPhone maker announced it’s delaying the rollout.
NGO Files Antitrust Complaint Against Apple in India
India non-profit group Together We Fight Society has filed an antitrust complaint against Apple, Reuters reported. It once again focuses on the cut of App Store transactions the company takes.
The allegations are similar to a case Apple faces in the European Union, where regulators last year started an investigation into Apple’s imposition of an in-app fee of 30% for distribution of paid digital content and other restrictions. The Indian case was filed by a little-known, non-profit group which argues Apple’s fee of up to 30% hurts competition by raising costs for app developers and customers, while also acting as a barrier to market entry. “The existence of the 30% commission means that some app developers will never make it to the market … This could also result in consumer harm,” said the filing
Apple’s AirTags Find Lost Items
Dr. Mac says Apple’s AirTags are the best tracker for lost items to date but finds Apple’s accessories way overpriced.
Apple’s Bias Against Discussing Pay Equity Rears Its Head in Slack
Apple recently barred employees from discussing pay equity on Slack. Jeff Butts believes this censorship clearly demonstrates Cupertino’s reluctance to deal with an important issue.
Today at Apple Creative Studios Launches in Chicago, Washington, DC
Apple announced on Wednesday that its Today at Apple Creative Studios endeavor will expand to Chicago and Washington, D.C., in September.
Apple Expands Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, Announcing $30 Million in New Commitments
Apple announced $30 million in new commitments as it broadened its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI).
Tim Cook Announces Apple Donation to Hurricane Ida Relief Efforts
Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the company will be donating to relief efforts following the destruction caused by Hurricane Ida.
Examining Apple's Carefree Attitude Towards Employee Privacy
Zoe Schiffer, writing for The Verge, investigates Apple employees and “the blurring of personal and work accounts.”
This is how it starts: a new Apple employee is told during onboarding that collaborating with their colleagues will require them to make extensive use of iCloud storage, and their manager offers a two terabyte upgrade. This will link their personal Apple ID to their work account — in fact, the instructions for accessing this upgrade explicitly say “you must link your personal Apple ID with your AppleConnect work account.”
Apple Security Engineer Cher Scarlett Explains the #AppleToo Movement
Cher Scarlett, a security engineer for Apple, has become the face of the #AppleToo movement and she explained how it started.
Apple Won't Mandate COVID-19 Vaccination
While the iPhone maker is strongly encouraging employees to get the shot, Apple still promises not to mandate COVID-19 vaccination.
Tim Cook Receives Final Payout of $750 Million in Apple Stock
As part of a 10-year deal when he took over as Apple CEO, Mr. Cook’s final payout is 5 million shares in Apple worth roughly US$750 million.
What Other Products do iPhone Owners Have?
The latest analysis from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners examined some of the common products that iPhone owners own.
AppleToo Movement Seeks Change from Cupertino
With Apple offending its consumers so much, it can be easy to miss employee discrimination woes. The AppleToo movement wants to change that.
Tim Cook, Satya Nadella, Andy Jassy to Visit White House for Cybersecurity
The CEOs of Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon will attend a meeting at the White House to discuss cybersecurity.
Apple Is Already Scanning iCloud Mail for CSAM
Think your iCloud Mail is safe from snooping? You should think again, because since 2019, Apple has been scanning iCloud Mail for CSAM.