undefined | Better HN

0 pointslern_too_spel7y ago0 comments

Apple is strictly worse on location data collection than Google, so you are not solving GP's problem. The OSM apps on Android are viable options for preserving privacy. Apple Maps is not.

0 comments

5 comments · 2 top-level

xref7y ago· 2 in thread

Huh? Android is the epitome of the surveillance panopticon. Google has every incentive to monetize that data for their ad sales targeting. Apple doesn’t.

Beside that I’m a big fan/contributor/user of OSM (maps.me is my app of choice there). But if you want to go with one of the big, polished players, I chose the one that has little to gain and much to lose from abusing my personal data.

devinl7y ago

Apple's search ads are projected to be one of the largest online advertisers in terms of ads revenue in 2020 (they have larger advertising revenue projections than both snap and twitter). Device sales in general are dropping so they are expected to continue to invest in this area of their business. Given that Apple is a large organization known for their lack of transparency, I would be very surprised if they weren't already doing shady things with user data for targeting purposes.

millstone7y ago

Apple says in their "Approach to Privacy" that Maps usage "can’t be tied to your Apple ID" and that no ads can access data from Maps.

These are strong unequivocal statements. We should all be very surprised if they're outright lying.

1 more reply

millstone7y ago· 1 in thread

No. Apple is far far better.

You can't sign in to Apple Maps. Apple doesn't know who or where you are, except via a random frequently rotating identifier.

Google pushes you hard to sign in with your Google account, tracks your searches and location, and associates that data with everything else they know about you.

lern_too_spelOP7y ago

All of the things you listed don't apply at all to OSM maps apps and are opt out in Google maps.

In Apple's ecosystem you cannot opt out of sending Maps queries from maps links to Apple at all. Additionally, if any app at all requests your location, iOS sends your location back to Apple, and you cannot opt out. On even Google-flavored Android devices, you can choose not to send any location information to Google at all.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse