Experts Warn Keeping Data Hidden from Apple is “Virtually Impossible”
Experts have cautioned that keeping your data hidden from Apple is “virtually impossible,” according to a new study. The research suggests that default apps on iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks collect personal data even when seemingly disabled.
The study, the first of its kind to examine the privacy settings of Apple’s default apps, focused on Safari, Siri, Family Sharing, iMessage, FaceTime, Location Services, Find My, and Touch ID. It aimed to determine whether Apple is upholding its privacy commitment encapsulated in the slogan: “Privacy. That’s Apple.”
Associate Professor Janne Lindqvist, head of the computer science department at Aalto University, Finland, explained: “We focused on apps that are an integral part of the platform and ecosystem. These apps are glued to the platform, and getting rid of them is virtually impossible.”
Lindqvist added, “Due to the way the user interface is designed, users don’t know what is going on. For example, the user is given the option to enable or not enable Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant. But enabling only refers to whether you use Siri’s voice control. Siri collects data in the background from other apps you use, regardless of your choice unless you understand how to go into the settings and specifically change that.”
The researchers found that protecting privacy on an Apple device would require expert knowledge and persistence. They also discovered that online instructions are confusing and fail to list all necessary steps or explain the data collected.
In interviews conducted to test users’ ability to protect their data, participants struggled to navigate settings effectively. While they could take a few steps in the right direction, none succeeded in fully protecting their privacy.
Amel Bourdoucen, a doctoral researcher at Aalto, stated: “The online instructions for restricting data access are very complex and confusing, and the steps required are scattered in different places. There’s no clear direction on whether to go to the app settings, the central settings – or even both. It turned out that the participants weren’t able to prevent any of the apps from sharing their data with other applications or the service provider.”
The researchers suggest that while they can’t be certain about Apple’s use of collected data, it is likely used for training AI behind Siri and providing personalized experiences. Their study, to be presented in mid-May at the prestigious CHI conference, offers suggestions for improving guidelines in the future, including considering third-party alternatives for individual apps, such as trading Safari for Firefox.
