Apple sued for 'illusionary' privacy practices and guarantees

The American multinational technology company Apple has been sued by plaintiff Elliot Libman for allegedly violating the California Invasion of Privacy Act.  

Apple has a long-standing stellar reputation for its privacy assurances but now a new research by independent researchers has surfaced saying that they found that Apple is still tracking its users in its apps even when they had turned the tracking off. The research can also be found in a series of tweets sent out by @mysk_co, an account that’s moderated by two IOS developers and security researchers on two continents, Tommy Mysk and Talal Haj Bakry.

For instance, the App Store continues to track users' information such as what app users tap on, what they type on the search bar, which ads they saw and so on. Furthermore, the App Store would send information including ID numbers, type of phone, keyboard languages and so on - these details could be utilised for device fingerprinting. 

According to the lawsuit, seen by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, the plaintiff states that the data "Apple surreptitiously collects is precisely the type of private, personal information consumers wish and expect to protect". It added that there is no justification for Apple’s secret, misleading and unauthorised recording and collection of consumers’ private communications and app activity.

The lawsuit added that Apple intentionally gives its consumers the impression that they have control over whether, how, and when Apple collects their personal app data. “But Apple’s privacy guarantees are completely illusory. Apple collects personal information and communications content from apps, originating from Apple iPhone and iPad users, irrespective of users’ clearly expressed directives to Apple and Apple’s promise to honor those directives,” it said.

It added that there is “no justification for Apple’s secret, misleading, and unauthorised recording and collection of consumers’ private communications and app activity”.

This isn't the first time that Apple is being sued for allegations of privacy violations. In September 2021, Apple was being sued by plaintiffs for allegations that Apple's voice-activated Siri is in violation of users' privacy, according to Reuters. 

Related articles: 

Apple reportedly restricts file-sharing function for Chinese iPhone users
Apple VP asked to leave for crude remarks about women in TikTok video
Apple Music scores touchdown overthrowing Pepsi as Super Bowl Halftime Show sponsor
Slew of ad and digital job positions open at Apple as it eyes digital ad revenue
'Not coming soon to an iPhone near you,' says Samsung in latest Apple jab