Apple's recent update on App Store revealed information about the user data being collected by apps. This could reveal the reason for the continuing world war that Apple had with another Silicon Valley giant, Facebook.
According to CNBC, the App Store update includes a lengthy entry for Facebook, which details the information the app collects and for what purpose. This could drive users to be concerned of their privacy and think twice about using the app.
Facebook data collection
The App Store attached pages of information about the data being collected by Mark Zuckerberg's social media app. With so much on the list, this may worry users who are conscious of their privacy.
When browsing on the mobile, users would need to scroll across several pages to read through Facebook's privacy label. The mere length creates a strong impact on users that the social media giant collects a massive amount of data from its billions of users.
There are two sets of information shown on the download page in App Store. These provide an overview of what data are being collected by the app.
The first is a list of "data used to track you," which are used to trace users in other websites and apps. These include the contact information, identifiers, and other data that Facebook or other advertisers use for targeting ads on other non-Facebook-owned websites, apps, and services.
The second category called "Data linked to you," includes information that can be linked and collected to users' identity. These include data about user's purchases, health and fitness, financial information, location, contacts, and user content. Facebook may also collect browsing history, diagnostics, usage data, and other sensitive information.
Moreover, users who click "See Details" will further discover a wide range of user data that Facebook collects. This also reveals Facebook's use of other user content and financial information to target ads as well as collect sensitive information for its internal analytics.
Read also: Twitter Fined $550K for Failure to Document Data Breach Within Period Given by DPC of Ireland
Apple-Facebook privacy feud
In the past five years, Apple and Facebook have engaged in a word war because of increasing conflict between the two giants. Well, it is quite understandable as they use different business focus.
While Facebook is a social media network, it is basically an advertising company that makes money by collecting detailed user information to help advertisers tailor their campaigns for target audiences.
In contrast, Apple makes money by selling computers, phones, and accessories for premium cost. As a consumer hardware company, it boasts its privacy features, which makes it harder for other companies to access user data and collect them for whatever purpose. Thus, despite the high prices, consumers still choose Apple products over other cheaper brands.
However, Apple-Facebook privacy feud rooted from user targeting. In November, Apple's Global Head of Privacy Jane Horvath wrote in a letter to human rights groups that Facebook executives have already clarified their intent to "collect as much data as possible across both first and third party products" to be able to create and monetize detailed user profiles. Horvath noted that this basically disregard user privacy, which continues to extend to other Facebook products and services.
According to Bloomberg, Facebook later issued a statement saying that Apple was merely using its power to bad light its competitors. "They claim it's about privacy, but it's about profit," Facebook wrote as reported by Bloomberg.
Meanwhile, Facebook added that its app and website include controls that users may customize to set their privacy settings.
Related article: Social Media Networks in Bad Position: UK Could Ban Facebook, IG, and More Because of Harmful Content
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Written by CJ Robles
