Most of iCloud backups are encrypted with your PIN — the one you unlock your phone. Some more sensitive data are backup only if you choose backup locally

The don’t collect this data. How could they monetize it?

iPhone users must login to use the phone. Those users need to provide valid identification info considering the phone is linked to their phone service account. Combine that with apple defining every single action the phone takes, they could easily flip a switch to start collecting "anonymized" data.

Or they could simply update the data-sharing default to "Yes" and 75%+ would never disable it.

I said.

> The don’t collect this data. How could they monetize it?

Your answer is essentially -

“in principle they could build tracking into all their software”

You seem to be suggesting that their plan is to fein interest in privacy to undermine all the tracking companies first, and then reverse their stance and become a super-intrusive tracking company.

That seems very far fetched and weirdly conspiracy like.

Also obviously not true, given that they have been lobbying for privacy legislation.