ipad iphone Locational Privacy policy Privacy

Apple Modifies iOS4, Reduces Storage of Location Data

In response to growing public concern about the collection of location data, Apple announced today four changes to iOS4. Apple said it will (1) limit the storage of locational data to one week; (2) stop transferring locational data from the device to the user's computers, (3) allow users to delete all locational data collection on the device; and (4) encrypt the locational data stored on the device. The update should be available in the next few weeks. The recent change was sparked by a research paper which revealed that Apple was routinely storing tracking data on Apple iPhones and iPads in a secret file "consolidated.db." Congressman Markey and others wrote to Apple to express concern. Apple pledged that the company "has no plans to ever" track iPhone users. EPIC has commended Apple for moving quickly to address this problem. For more information, see EPIC: iPhone and Privacy and EPIC: Locational Privacy.

April 27, 2011| Share: