Core77

Apple Releases Online Tool That Lets You See What Data They've Collected On You

What's on your phone, vs. on their servers?

By Rain Noe - October 17, 2018

in Tech

I've pretty much accepted that if I discuss something out loud, ads start popping up for that thing when I go online. If I tell you that I think my phone is listening to me, I sound like a crazy person. So I have no explanation as to how this happens.

Apple wants to assure you that they're not surreptitiously collecting data on you, that private things like your call log, heart rate and browsing habits are not stored on their servers. To make this transparent, today they've updated the Privacy portion of their website so that you can log on and request a report showing you precisely what data they've collected. It can be accessed here (follow the link to the "Manage Your Privacy" section).

Enter a caption (optional)

Have any of you noticed the enduring phenomena mentioned in the first paragraph? I'm going to start saying "bananas" out loud several times throughout the day to see if I get banana ads.

o
1

Favorite This
Q
4

Comment

Comments

Brad Johnson

6 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

I experienced that phenomena frequently, but only with Instagram/Instagram Ads. Turning off access to the microphone for said app eliminated the problem.

However, Instagram requires you to turn the microphone on each time you post (even if it's a photo without sound), so I have to remember to turn it off afterwards each time. Pretty smart of them since most people wont bother to switch it on and off.

My friends and I first noticed it when we discovered ads targeted at things we had discussed during our lunch break. We then decided to test it by speaking (no internet searching) specific terms multiple times to see if they would generate an ad... they did about 90% of the time.

!Report as spam
- Eric Strebel
  
  Brad Johnson
  
  6 years ago
  
  Z
  
  Z
  
  Reply
  
  That seems so unscrupulous, I am surprised that is even legal. Where in settings do you turn the on and off?
  
  !Report as spam
  - Brad Johnson
    
    Eric Strebel
    
    6 years ago
    
    Z
    
    Z
    
    ya, they ask you to agree to it when you install the app, but no one actually reads those things.
    
    I have an iPhone. Click on Settings, and scroll down to the Instagram app. Once you click on it, you can view the permissions (location tracking, microphone, etc).
    
    !Report as spam
  - Brad Johnson
    
    Eric Strebel
    
    6 years ago
    
    Z
    
    Z
    
    ...or, you could open Settings. Tap on Privacy... then tap microphone. It will show you all the apps that requested to use the microphone when they were installed.
    
    !Report as spam

Share your thoughts

Join over 240,000 designers who stay up-to-date with the Core77 newsletter.
Subscribe
Test it out; it only takes a single click to unsubscribe

Directory Company Profiles

Core77
Industrial Design
Resources

K

{

Welcome

jSign In with Core77 Account

Email or Username
Password Forgot password?
Keep me signed in

Cancel

Don't have an account? Join Now

K

{

Welcome

Create a Core77 Account

jJoin Now with Email

Email Not Public
Username
Password
Confirm Password
Cancel

Already have an account? Sign In

By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use

K

Reset Password

Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.

Apple Releases Online Tool That Lets You See What Data They've Collected On You

What's on your phone, vs. on their servers?

Comments

Join over 240,000 designers who stay up-to-date with the Core77 newsletter.

Directory Company Profiles

Core77 Directory

K

Welcome

K

Welcome

K

Reset Password

Join over 240,000 designers who stay up-to-date with the Core77 newsletter.