Is Apple violating the privacy of iTunes users?
Posted by Chris Leckness on 01/12/06 in Music Players
The MiniStore, a new feature in this week’s release of iTunes 6.02, basically looks at what song you are currently playing in iTunes and recommends other songs that you might want to purchase.
Several sources have confirmed, via network tracing, that every time you play a song in iTunes the MiniStore not only sends information to Apple but also sends it to the third-party web analytics company, Omniture.
First, I’d like to say that I have had past experience with Omniture and can say that they are a reliable company that has very strict privacy policies.
With that said, I don’t understand why Apple doesn’t share this with users in the iTunes EULA. It doesn’t bother me that a company shares data with a third-party, as long as they inform me during software installation of what information is going to be shared and with whom it will be shared.
Source: InformationWeek
Written by Chris Leckness · Filed Under Music Players
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For those that don’t want anyone to know what music they’re listening to, all they have to do is disable the ministore and no information is sent to anyone.
Good point, JT. I meant to note that in my original posting.
Regardless, Apple should include any privacy notices in the EULA. Especially in this case, since they are using Omniture who requires their clients to inform customers that their info is going to be shared.