Apple, which has marketed itself as a more privacy-friendly company in recent years, offers an opt-in model to share analytics information, although it takes some effort across different company web pages to understand your options.
The choices are apparently confusing not only to users. When I called Apple tech support to ask whether the company automatically collected user analytics data from the iOS operating system, iCloud, and iPhone without user consent, the agent initially seemed confused but then said yes. But Apple web pages appear to suggest usage information is shared only after you opt in when setting up your devices.
“Help Apple improve its products by allowing analytics of usage data from your iPhone,” the phone asks as you set up the device (the “Share with Apple” button is also highlighted). “You can change your decision later in Settings.”
To check your iPhone settings go to Settings > Privacy > Analytics & Improvements. “iPhone Analytics may include details about hardware and operating system specifications, performance statistics, and data about how you use your devices and applications,” the company says on its website, adding that location data may also be sent if “Location Services” is also on. Apple also separately asks if users wish to share health records and iCloud analytics with Apple, as well as crash and usage data with third-party app developers.
For its iOS operating system, Apple writes: “Apple asks customers to help improve the iOS by occasionally providing analytics, diagnostic, and usage information. Apple collects this information anonymously,” it says. Such information helps it come up with better predictive suggestions while you are typing, or emoji suggestions.
On MacOS devices, you can adjust your sharing settings in System Preferences under Security & Privacy > Privacy > Analytics & Improvements.
For Apple’s iCloud online storage service, which works across devices, the company writes: “If you give your explicit consent to share iCloud Analytics, Apple can improve Siri and other intelligent features by analyzing how you use iCloud data from your account, such as text snippets from email messages.”
CR reached out to Apple for comment on their device analytics data collection and sharing, and an Apple spokesperson responded: “When users set up an Apple device, they are asked whether they would like to share app analytics with developers and partners to help improve their apps. If a user opts in to sharing this data, the device will only provide analytics information and statistics in aggregate, or in a form that does not personally identify the user.”
Trinity College Dublin Professor Leith’s paper found, however, that Apple shares some data even from users who have not opted in.
“A number of the pre-installed apps/services are also observed to make network connections, despite never having been opened or used. In particular, on iOS these include Siri, Safari, and iCloud,” Leith writes, adding that Google programs also act similarly. “The high frequency of network connections made by both iOS and Google Android (on average every 4.5 minutes) therefore potentially allow tracking by Apple and Google of device location over time.”
In response to the findings in Leith’s report, the Apple spokesperson told CR “Apple devices may send data to Apple servers for reasons that are necessary for the device to function such as registering a new phone on the carrier’s network. Even in these cases Apple devices and software minimize the data shared with Apple, and where possible, do not associate data sent with an Apple ID or any other form of identity.”
Source : From the Web