iOS 4 privacy policy updated: Apple can anonymously collect location data, you can take away iAds' cookies

It may not be a big deal -- Android's done it for years -- but some will no doubt be interested to learn that Apple can monitor your GPS. In the latest revision of its privacy policy, presumably updated for iOS 4, it revealed the company can anonymously track the "real-time geographic location" of devices and is free to share that data with "partners and licensees" as well. In a nutshell, that means Cupertino could potentially sell location data, but don't get in a tiff just yet -- the company says it will do so anonymously and for location-based services only.

Speaking of sales and personally identifiable data, another addition to iOS 4 is the ad network iAd, which monitors your browsing habits and interests and serves up targeted advertisements respectively. According to the updated privacy policy, however, you don't need to let the OS do that. Simply navigate to http://oo.apple.com to shut down automated cookie collection, and you'll see boring, generic ads instead.

[Wesscoast Posted Jun 22nd 2010 12:55AM]

If Apple's doing it, it's not Anonymous, is it?

Anonymous means "unknown, unnamed"... we know their names, its Steve Jobs and Phil Schiller.

Did you mean to say REMOTELY? Whatever. Proofreading is fun, guys.

[adrianmak Posted Jun 22nd 2010 12:58AM]

China Gov should love this feature very much.

[thhix Posted Jun 22nd 2010 1:45AM]

Uh.. this is horrible! I'm considering canceling my preorder.

[thhix Posted Jun 22nd 2010 1:45AM]

Thanks for the http://oo.apple.com heads up though, engadget!

[anupamsingh09 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 1:55AM]

Imagine visiting a porn site on phone once and your kid watching an 'interactive' playboy ad while playing Angry birds.

So much for 'freedom from porn' or shall we get an android now.

[uglyface Posted Jun 22nd 2010 2:06AM]

I followed the link, but it won't let me opt out!!

[jenjaman Posted Jun 22nd 2010 2:15AM]

Now how is the Big Brother Apple's been fighting with :lol: I appears the one and only reason was to become a Big Brother.

[glamoureus Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:27AM]

THIS IS NOT OK! I don't freaking want to be tracked!! NO BUY APPLE.

[bpolyak Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:41AM]

I went to the website and it told me I wasn't running ios4. Pretty sure I know what os I'm running

[Medina Posted Jun 22nd 2010 7:20AM]

I think its time to turn off Location Services

[oluka007 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 1:01PM]

By Law, apple does not have the right to track your location and it is criminal to do so without the consent of the customer. There is no anonymity because every cell phone has a unique device identifier. And by law apple has to give you the name, address and phone number of each company it shares (sells) your information to. I propose a class action suit to make then stop collecting this information or for then to give us a way to opt-out of it entirely. Plus apple is liable to pay 25000 everyday of collecting this information without our consent. And asking us to give up that right or refrain from updating to iOS4 or buying the awesome iPhone 4 is criminal.

[NewsGallery Posted Jun 23rd 2010 7:10PM]

Via NewsGallery: THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE iOS4 TUNNEL FOR iPhone 3: http://bit.ly/iOAS43G