Apple Requires User Permission Before Apps Can Access Personal Data in iOS 6

earlier year, apple came under fire consumers advocates , congress after discovered apps, notably path, uploading users' entire address books servers without alerting users or asking authorization. path deleted information, pair of u.s. congressmen sent letter apple asking information on company's data collection policies.

more recently, linkedin came under fire transmitting information ios calendar entries servers in plain text.




in os x mountain lion beta, apple began requiring apps explicit permission access user's address book information, , apple pr said in february ios app "wishing access contact data will require explicit user approval in future software release."

starting ios 6, apple requires apps explicit user permission before accessing contacts, calendars, reminders, , photos. "data privacy" section in apple's ios 6 release notes:

quote

in addition location data, system asks user's permission before allowing third-party apps access user data, including:

- contacts
- calendars
- reminders
- photo library

contact, calendar, , reminder data, app needs prepared denied access these items , adjust behavior accordingly. if user has not yet been prompted allow access, returned structure valid contains no records. if user has denied access, app receives null value or no data. if user grants permission app, system subsequently notifies app needs reload or revert data.

click expand...

as iphone , ipad have grown in popularity, apple has come under increasing scrutiny on privacy practices of both apple , developers participating in app store ecosystem. last year, senator al franken asked both apple , google require app developers have "clear , understandable" privacy policies.

apple later agreed comply new california law requiring links privacy policies in consistent locations , provide method users report apps not comply privacy requirements.

congress got involved on disclosure of location information app makers, going far introduce bill force companies explicit authorization before disclosing user's location anyone. apple asks ios users if location services should enabled during initial setup process.

ios 6 in beta , expected publicly released fall.

article link: apple requires user permission before apps can access personal data in ios 6

 

useful never found privacy thing issue. put user data on phone never felt being used inappropriately.

 

Forums News and Article Discussion MacRumors.com News Discussion

• iPhone
• Mac OS & System Software
• iPad
• Apple Watch
• Notebooks
• iTunes
• Apple ID
• iCloud
• Desktop Computers
• Apple Music
• Professional Applications
• iPod
• iWork
• Apple TV
• iLife
• Wireless