undefined | Better HN

0 pointsfactorialboy2y ago0 comments

You missed the point. Apple tracks every app launch. And reports it to an external server. Not localized. Not anonymized.

0 comments

tomnipotent2y ago

You didn't make a point. App telemetry is absolutely benign compared to the kind of invasive ad tracking that Facebook participates in. There's no shortage of horror stories of poorly implemented Facebook Pixel integrations passing sensitive user data that marketers then use to create custom ad campaigns.

Most recent examples that come to mind:

https://www.extremetech.com/internet/341111-tax-filing-websi...

https://gizmodo.com/sat-college-board-tells-facebook-tiktok-...

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/27/nhs-data-bre...

https://themarkup.org/pixel-hunt/2022/12/13/out-of-control-d...

Draiken2y ago

It might be less awful, but in no way, shape or form it is benign.

tomnipotent2y ago

Apple is using the data first-party only and isn't reselling or otherwise making it available for third parties to use. Explain how it's not benign, other than "tracking bad". How does it harm consumers, or put customers at risk?

Draiken2y ago

Because it will. It's simply inevitable because of the system we live in. At some point or another, they will need to grow revenue and suddenly that trove of data they have collected beforehand, regardless of its initial purpose, will be used to screw customers.

The only way to protect against this is to not let them have that in the first place. Once they have it, it's impossible to guarantee it won't be misused sooner or later.

2 more replies

satvikpendem2y ago

What is this false dichotomy? Both can be bad, even if one is less bad than the other. It doesn't make either "benign."

tomnipotent2y ago

> It doesn't make either "benign."

It's literally benign by definition.

    benign
    adjective

    a: of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life 
    b: having no significant effect : harmless

Provide evidence or argument that it's not benign.

satvikpendem2y ago

All tracking is bad, therefore it's not benign. Benign tracking is no tracking.

1 more reply

threeseed2y ago

It can't be done locally since Apple needs the ability to revoke certificates at will.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

tomnipotent2y ago

Most recent examples that come to mind:

https://www.extremetech.com/internet/341111-tax-filing-websi...

https://gizmodo.com/sat-college-board-tells-facebook-tiktok-...

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/27/nhs-data-bre...

https://themarkup.org/pixel-hunt/2022/12/13/out-of-control-d...

Draiken2y ago

It might be less awful, but in no way, shape or form it is benign.

tomnipotent2y ago

Draiken2y ago

The only way to protect against this is to not let them have that in the first place. Once they have it, it's impossible to guarantee it won't be misused sooner or later.

2 more replies

satvikpendem2y ago

What is this false dichotomy? Both can be bad, even if one is less bad than the other. It doesn't make either "benign."

tomnipotent2y ago

> It doesn't make either "benign."

It's literally benign by definition.

    benign
    adjective

    a: of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life 
    b: having no significant effect : harmless

Provide evidence or argument that it's not benign.

satvikpendem2y ago

All tracking is bad, therefore it's not benign. Benign tracking is no tracking.

1 more reply

threeseed2y ago

It can't be done locally since Apple needs the ability to revoke certificates at will.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse