iOS to stop FB & Google spying

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Batman

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#281304 9-Feb-2021 21:53

So I can't live without Android/Facebook/Google ... but if it's true the next iOS will stop Facebook and Google spying on me ... then I'm tempted to change ...

Anyone else?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateoflahertyuk/2019/09/22/apple-ios-13-is-facebook-and-googles-worst-nightmare-coming-true/

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#2650682 9-Feb-2021 22:03

That's a 2 year old article about a superseded OS. Already happened.

dt

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#2650683 9-Feb-2021 22:05

thats from 2019, we are already up to ios14.4 😁

edit: opps beaten to it

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#2650740 10-Feb-2021 08:13

The OP maybe getting mixed up with an upcoming iOS14 update which is going to let iOS users know when apps are tracking their data, as below...

"Apple believes that privacy is a fundamental human right. It proved that when it refused the FBI's request to provide a crack for the suspect in the 2015 San Bernardino shooting. Taking on the FBI, and wining, was one thing. Now it's got a new target. Facebook.

Sort of.

Apple isn't specifically trying to hurt Mark Zuckerberg's business. But it’s almost certain that Facebook – and lots of other businesses – will be an indirect casualty of Apple's decision to give its customers more control over their digital privacy.

For those who haven't been following the news closely, here's a quick recap. Apple is set to add new privacy features to its upcoming iOS 14 update. Specifically, a new App Tracking Transparency feature that will let iOS users grant or deny apps permission to track their activity across other apps and websites. Surveys suggest it could be a bloodbath for companies that rely on tracking to sell personalised adverts, with some data suggesting up to 85 per cent of users would select “Ask App Not to Track” in their favourite app, if they were given the choice.

Clearly, this sort of uptake will hinder the effectiveness of targeted advertising – aka the creepy ads that sometimes know what you're about to buy even before you do.

Facebook hasn't taken the news well at all, which isn't really surprising because Facebook is the king of data collection and targeted advertising. It released a statement suggesting the move could see ad revenue drop as much as 40 per cent.

Facebook also posted a new blog post detailing how the changes may significantly limit its users' marketing efforts.

And it even launched a new section of its Facebook Business website, titled Small businesses deserve to be heard, that shares stories of the small business owners who might be directly affected, should Apple users choose not to let apps and websites sell their personal data to the highest bidder."

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dafman

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#2650764 10-Feb-2021 09:15

I've recently moved from Android to iOS solely for reasons of improved privacy.

Even without the upcoming Facebook tracking update, iOS is already far more privacy focused. Apps on the Apple app store are required to provide much more detailed info on permissions etc than android, plus Apple provide much more transparent information on which apps are using location services and when they do so.

With Android, you have to give Google Play services access to all permissions on your phone at all times, whereas you can totally strip back Google's snooping ability on an iPhone.

And the upcoming iOS update which will allow users to block Facebook tracking from third party apps will be a game changer further setting Apple well ahead over Android when it comes to user privacy.

That said, I don't use Facebook. If you are an active Facebook user on iPhone, forget privacy, your life is virtually an open book - although upcoming update will help a bit.

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#2650887 10-Feb-2021 10:46

It is going to be very interesting to see how this plays out. By focusing on privacy Apple seem to be going against industry trends, but they are certainly on the right side of consumer sentiment.

Facebook really should be looking for alternative revenue streams to displace the revenue that they are going to lose if consumers become more defensive about their privacy. On the other hand they are an incredibly arrogant company and their existing business model is very much entrenched.

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#2650906 10-Feb-2021 11:11

Always mystified me why Facebook thinks we care about their inability to track us.

Batman

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#2650908 10-Feb-2021 11:12

RunningMan:
That's a 2 year old article about a superseded OS. Already happened.

Sorry that's embarrassing

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dafman

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#2652973 10-Feb-2021 13:13

RunningMan:

That's a 2 year old article about a superseded OS. Already happened.

Yes, but an upcoming iOS 14 update is a significant win for privacy and significantly restricts Facebook's monitoring of users via iOS apps. Link here

gehenna

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#2653028 10-Feb-2021 13:49

Is it really spying if you choose to use the service knowing what it does?

Batman

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#2653031 10-Feb-2021 13:53

gehenna:
Is it really spying if you choose to use the service knowing what it does?

No it's called sleeping with the enemy

Newtown

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#2653079 10-Feb-2021 15:45

Apple has published a report on the practices of the data collection industry. Really informative piece showing how much data is being collected.
View A Day in the Life of Your Data (PDF)

Apple's privacy page
https://www.apple.com/nz/privacy

I'm looking forward to tighter privacy controls, no matter what FB thinks.

dafman

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#2653219 10-Feb-2021 18:54

gehenna:
Is it really spying if you choose to use the service knowing what it does?

Many people are ignorant when it comes to knowing what FB does. A lot of them willingly so.

eg. I know some people who refuse to watch a Social Dilemma, they chose to remain ignorant because ongoing access to cute cat gifs or selfies from friends filtered unreality is just too precious to give up. Each to their own.

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#2653221 10-Feb-2021 18:59

dafman:
gehenna:

Is it really spying if you choose to use the service knowing what it does?

Many people are ignorant when it comes to knowing what FB does. A lot of them willingly so.

eg. I know some people who refuse to watch a Social Dilemma, they chose to remain ignorant because ongoing access to cute cat gifs or selfies from friends filtered unreality is just too precious to give up. Each to their own.

if you're doing things within the app and they track what you do, well that's almost implied.

but if they're tracking you when you're not using the app, shouldn't it be illegal?

dafman

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#2654400 11-Feb-2021 08:26

Batman:

but if they're tracking you when you're not using the app, shouldn't it be illegal?

That's exactly what FB is doing. There are many apps that track users on FB's behalf and then send that data directly to FB, without the app user's knowledge.

This is what the upcoming Apple update will change. Users will be advised if an app is tracking them and give them the ability to turn this off.

If you are an Android user, no such update planned.

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#2654403 11-Feb-2021 08:36

On an android you can choose not to install FB.

But how do you stop Google from tracking you on an Android... Someone please advice

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