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TECHNOLOGY A23
Monday 29 February 2016
Tech Talk:
Apple’s tech allies oppose the FBI, but still want your data
BRANDON BAILEY Twitter cannot.” have long complained Companies like Google tion on individuals — from
AP Technology Writer That makes the details of that those companies reap and Facebook argue they their income and bill-pay-
PALO ALTO, California (AP) the iPhone case especially billions of dollars by col- take pains to protect the ing history to where they’ve
— In its fight with the FBI, important. The FBI says it’s lecting all kinds of personal data they collect. Face- lived and worked.
Apple insists it’s defending only asking for narrow tech- information, including re- book, for example, tracks “Google does not sell your
the privacy and safety of nical assistance in bypass- cords of customers’ online users’ likes and actions so personal information,” said
all iPhone users by resist- ing security features on a behavior, and using it to the company can show Rachel Whetstone, then a
ing government calls to phone used by one of the target them for advertising. them ads targeted to peo- senior vice president for the
help unlock an extremist’s shooters who killed 14 peo- Apple CEO Tim Cook has ple with similar character- giant Internet company,
iPhone. And now other big ple in San Bernardino. “We leveled jabs at his competi- istics. But Facebook has in a speech last year. “Nor
tech companies such as couldn’t look the survivors
Google and Facebook are in the eye if we did not fol- A demonstrator stands outside the Apple store on Fifth Avenue in New York. In its fight with the FBI,
rallying to Apple’s side. low this lead,” FBI Director Apple insists it’s defending the privacy and safety of all iPhone users by resisting government calls
Wait just a minute: Aren’t James Comey said online. to help unlock an extremist’s iPhone.
those the same companies Apple contends that a
that Apple has previously magistrate’s order would (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
criticized by lobbing veiled force it to create soft-
accusations that they ex- ware that will make other tors, boasting that Apple said it doesn’t give adver- do we share it without your
ploit your personal informa- iPhones vulnerable to fu- doesn’t rely on ad revenue tisers access to information permission except in very
tion — to sell ads — and ture hacking by authori- for most of its services. As linked to any individual by limited circumstances,”
effectively endanger your ties and criminals. Leading he’s said more than once: name. such as when faced with
privacy? tech companies including “When an online service Internet companies do op- a court-issued warrant.
Some might argue that Ap- Google, Twitter, Facebook is free, you’re not the cus- erate very differently from Like Facebook, Google
ple’s allies are hypocrites and Microsoft say they’ll file tomer. Experts say it’s not traditional data brokers says it pushes back against
when it comes to privacy, legal arguments in support really clear if Apple’s pri- such as credit bureaus, government requests that
much like the fraternity of Apple’s position. vacy stance is a big selling which make their money by seem unwarranted or over-
brothers in “Animal House” The same companies ob- point for most consumers. selling all kinds of informa- broad.q
who declared: “He can’t jected loudly after former
do that to our pledges. government contractor
Only we can do that to our Edward Snowden revealed
pledges.” the scope of National
But Silicon Valley’s view of Security Agency surveil-
privacy is more nuanced lance programs that col-
than that. And Americans lected user data and even
historically have worried tapped their networks with-
less about the private sec- out their knowledge. The
tor and more about the companies have gone to
government’s power to in- court and Congress to limit
fringe on individual rights. that kind of government
“The government can put data-gathering, while also
me in jail,” said Larry Downs, fighting attempts to weak-
a scholar at Georgetown en the encryption codes
University’s Center for Busi- that shield your messages
ness and Public Policy. from prying eyes.
“Google, Facebook and Yet privacy advocates
