Apples iOS Address Book Privacy Issues

Privacy Concerns with Apples iOS address book.
Image from Apple.com

So we are back to the issue of privacy and things get murkier and murkier. I have not been following tech news this week like I usually do all the time, I decided to take a long holiday and give myself sometime to rest from the outside world, well actually I was having some problems with my Internet connection and that was the reason for not being online.

Well I am sure you have all heard it by now but if you haven’t then I will explain briefly. A certain tech company which is highly respected in the tech world and currently the largest capped  company (company with the largest market capitalization) in the world has had some issues with its address book system in its popular mobile OS. Well the company in question is Apple and the word is out on the street that certain apps like Path and so many other apps have unrestricted access to your address book on your iPhone. Some of these apps without asking user permission are able to download and store your address book to their servers for purposes of improving their services and other purposes only known to them. Shocking, isn’t it?

What this means it that your privacy is being eroded more and more. Individuals and companies are getting more and more access to your private life like never before and there is little you can do about it. They know your entire family and friends. They know every where you have been in the last your and more, they know your political beliefs some know your sexual preferences and habits and now they know who you call when you called them and who called you. With all that information there is very little that you can do to have a private life.

For some free spirited people they might not care about what you know about them but even with the most open minded people in the world there are certain things that they wouldn’t let everyone know. 

But who is to blame for all of this?

First I would like to blame the users for not caring so much about their privacy creating a false sense that sharing everything is what everybody wants to do. If consumers were more cautious about privacy tech companies will go to every length possible to ensure that your privacy will never be violated.

Second, The providers of the platform. Yes guys I am talking about the almighty Apple and they should take the blame for what is happening right now. They provided the functionality that allows app developers to access and download users address-books without permission from users. I don't know If it was because of UI design principles that they removed user permissions from the address book but what ever reason they have it is not a good one. From location sensors to address books to pictures, sound and music no application should have access without user permissions. 

I am going to leave app developers out, it is not their fault that they have unrestricted access to your personal information when the platform provides them with that kind of access.

The solution is clear Apple should apologize for the error take responsibility and make a correction with an update to iOS 5. But I am sure they wouldn't for legal reasons.

It is sad that user privacy has fallen to such low standards, and if the current trend continues I tell you there will be nothing like privacy this trend worries me greatly, I don't know about you but it doesn't sound good at all. 

What do you think about user privacy....................leave a comment.........thanks