I think you're being overly paranoid. Apple is not an advertising company. They are a hardware company first and foremost, with a content and services business that goes to extreme lengths to ensure privacy.

The Apple routers and access points did zero traffic inspection (other than IGMP) and had absolutely no tracking features. Please do not bring biased, toxic reasoning into the conversation.

> I think you're being overly paranoid.

No shortage of paranoid comments here

I think it’s okay to be paranoid in this space. Most of us are playing the role of consumers here. Strictly identifying the data collected, and identifying Apple’s interest/ disinterest in using that data for its own shareholder’s profit is definitely worth looking at from a consumers pov.

Their hardware business is flatlining and they are relying on “services” for growth. Guess what “services” is? Primarily the 30% tax on transactions, but also their fast-growing advertising business.

As for data collection, iOS is only marginally better than Android, and Apple exempts itself from the IDFA controls it imposes on 3rd-party apps.

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/android-ios-data-collection

Apple's primary business model revolves around selling hardware, software, and services rather than advertising. Unlike companies such as Google and Facebook, which generate the majority of their revenue from targeted advertising, Apple earns most of its revenue from the sale of iPhones, Macs, iPads, and various services like iCloud and Apple Music. This fundamental difference in business models shapes their approach to user data and privacy.

Apple has positioned itself as a company that prioritizes user privacy. Over the years, Apple has implemented numerous privacy features, such as App Tracking Transparency (ATT), which requires apps to obtain user permission before tracking their activity across other apps and websites. Apple's privacy policies are often stricter than those of other tech companies, reflecting their commitment to protecting user data.

The claim that Apple exempts itself from tracking restrictions is misleading. While Apple does have access to certain data from its own ecosystem, such as app usage and iCloud data, it does not sell this data to third parties or use it for targeted advertising in the same way that companies like Google do. Apple's advertising business is limited to its own App Store, News, and Stocks apps, and the data used for ad targeting within these apps is based on user interactions within Apple’s ecosystem, with strict limits on data sharing.

Apple provides users with clear choices and transparency about how their data is used. With features like App Tracking Transparency, Privacy Labels, and the ability to limit ad tracking, Apple gives users more control over their data than most other tech companies. Users can choose to opt-out of personalized ads and tracking, which is a level of control not universally offered by other major tech firms.

Apple’s privacy practices are subject to regulatory oversight in various jurisdictions. Any attempt to exempt itself from its own privacy rules would likely face legal challenges and public scrutiny, further deterring Apple from engaging in practices that would undermine user trust.

> Apple provides users with clear choices and transparency about how their data is used.

And this is where this fantasy story went too far. Just a simple search of "Apple dark patterns" will yield years of tricking people into giving away massive amounts of data that they wouldn't if they really knew how the controls worked.

I'll also leave this at: you have no clue how Apple uses your data. To say otherwise is a flat out lie. SaaS is not a panacea because it's Apple and they market "privacy" and/or "security".

While it’s true that dark patterns—design tactics that subtly guide users into making certain choices—are a concern in the tech industry, Apple has generally been seen as more transparent compared to some other companies. For instance, Apple’s introduction of App Tracking Transparency (ATT) was a significant move toward giving users more control over their data. If Apple were primarily motivated to trick users into giving away data, initiatives like ATT would be counterproductive to that aim.

The assertion that “you have no clue how Apple uses your data” oversimplifies the situation. While it’s true that understanding the full scope of data use by any large tech company can be difficult, Apple’s privacy policies and terms of service are publicly available and outline their data practices. Apple’s approach to privacy is built around minimizing data collection where possible, using on-device processing, and keeping data anonymous where feasible. For example, Apple’s advertising platform does not follow users across the web; it uses on-device data and does not share data with third parties.

Software as a Service (SaaS) is a broad category, and it’s true that not all SaaS models are created equal in terms of privacy. However, Apple’s version of SaaS is integrated within an ecosystem that they tightly control, which reduces the reliance on third-party data brokers and limits the potential for data abuse. While it’s always wise to be cautious about data privacy, Apple’s track record—despite some valid criticisms—shows a commitment to privacy that sets it apart from companies whose core business is data monetization.

It's accounts like yours that ruin HN. Nice try with the AI generated response.

I wrote that. Took me an hour.

I think it’s snarky accounts like yours that ruin it, frankly. What’s wrong with nerds like you?

I am gonna call you on that. We can choose a plagiarism checker of your preference, would like to see how much ai generated content is in your hour long effort.

No, you didn't. Looking through your history you clearly leverage AI responses a lot. Accounts like yours need to be flagged because what you actually write vs your plagiarism is night and day. If you're going to do this at least spend time mimicking yourself so the post actually looks genuine.

First of all, everything here I either have personal experience with or googled it. No AI. Second of all, there is no plagiarism claims against internet comments. Come on. I am not “claiming” anything. Openly admitting that I found information only. Take away my internet degree.

Plagarism: "Plagiarism is the use of another's work, words, or ideas without attribution."

You clearly copied your response (twice) as it has no personal intonation as do your defensive posts. I guess you'd rather write out the defense of your copy and paste?

I ran your (clearly AI generated comments) through a number of checkers and either you write exactly as AI does very often, or... Yeah. Enjoy the facade!

“You clearly copied your response (twice) as it has no personal intonation as do your defensive posts. I guess you'd rather write out the defense of your copy and paste?”

I really have no idea what you are talking about.

I was one paragraph in before I realized this is GPT. Why are you replying to human thoughts with AI garbage? Wtf go interact with people in person.