In a revealing study conducted by Aalto University, researchers have found that disabling data collection by Apple's default apps is a challenging task, raising concerns about user privacy and Apple’s data handling practices. Apple, known for prioritizing privacy with features like App Tracking Transparency, still allows its own apps to gather substantial user data, according to the study.
The research examined several of Apple's built-in applications such as Safari, Siri, iMessage, FaceTime, and Find My, along with various settings like Family Sharing, Location Services, and Touch ID. It highlighted that these apps continue to send data back to Apple, even when users attempt to disable such actions.
Associate Professor Janne Lindqvist, who led the study, pointed out the complexities and ambiguities in Apple's user interface and privacy settings. For example, while users can choose to enable Siri, the voice assistant may still collect data in the background regardless of this choice. The study claims that the settings to completely prevent data collection are not only scattered across different documents but are also intricate and unclear.
Volunteers who participated in the study struggled with following the convoluted instructions to stop data collection. Many could not complete all the necessary steps, and there was a lack of feedback from the system about whether the changes were successful. This lack of clarity and feedback led some users to inadvertently revert their settings or browse aimlessly through options.
The study also expressed concerns over the transparency of what Apple does with the collected data. While it's suspected that the data might be used for improving services like Siri or personalizing user experiences, definitive details were not accessible in the public domain.
Critics have noted that Apple's own apps are subjected to less stringent data collection rules compared to third-party apps on iOS, a discrepancy that has led to lawsuits in the past. Despite Apple’s claims of minimizing and anonymizing the data it collects, the findings from Aalto University suggest that Apple could improve transparency and simplify privacy settings to better align with their pro-privacy branding.
