Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial complex”

Re:Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial ... by macintux on Wednesday October 24, 2018 @08:40AM (#18291859)

I would wager they think it's confusing and possibly dangerous.

How many people would leave it on as they drive away from home, and then struggle with their phones as they're driving?

Apple doesn't generally expose more options than it thinks a substantial number of people need. That's a UX decision, not a "Apple wants to track you forever" evil business decision.

I'll admit I wouldn't mind an option like this, but I'm fine with three levels of location service controls for apps.

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Re:Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial ... by tananaev on Wednesday October 24, 2018 @09:23AM (#18292149)

There are ways to make it user friendly. iOS can provide some kind of API that apps can use to explicitly request user to switch location services on. Just like permissions.

They can also have an option is settings to ONLY allow foreground app to use location service.

I bet most people don't want random apps to know their location in the background. They only want location when they know what it's used for (e.g. Google Maps, Uber/Lyft etc). If Apple is really so pro-privacy, they can find a way to stop apps tracking location in the background.

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Re:Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial ... by Tehnix on Wednesday October 24, 2018 @10:07AM (#18292518)

For the second point: Settings -> Privacy -> Location Services and then set the app to “While using the app”.

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Re:Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial ... by macintux on Wednesday October 24, 2018 @10:33AM (#18292730)

That's not quite the same thing, because with that setting apps can run in the background and continue to track your location. Usually you want this (e.g., Waze), but not always (e.g., Uber).

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Re:Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial ... by Tehnix on Wednesday October 24, 2018 @11:01AM (#18292992)

No. That would quite literally be the “Always” setting... For example, for Messenger to share live location, it needs location sharing to be always, and not just “While using”. With while using though, you are still able to share a pin point of you current location.

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Re:Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial ... by macintux on Wednesday October 24, 2018 @11:23AM (#18293189)

Now that I've looked for Apple's document on the matter I'm more confused. I'd need some examples of what it means by "one of its features".

"Allows access to Location Services only when the app or one of its features is visible on screen. If an app is set to While Using the App, you might see your status bar turn blue with a message that an app is actively using your location."

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207092

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Re:Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial ... by macintux on Wednesday October 24, 2018 @11:16AM (#18293143)

I don't allow anything Facebook-owned to access my location, so I can't speak to Messenger, but perhaps FB simply doesn't want you to lose location sharing if iOS has to kill Messenger while running in the background.

Always: an app can always access your location

While using: an app can access your location until explicitly terminated by the user or the OS due to resource constraints

Never: self-evident

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Re:Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the “data industrial ... by Tehnix on Wednesday October 24, 2018 @11:24AM (#18293205)

Fair enough, I seemed to have missed the background part from

> An app is considered "in use" when you're actively using it in the foreground, or when it's in use in the background, which the status bar will indicate.

from https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203033. There is still the indication, but admittedly that is not the same.

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