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Apple: New iOS, new location privacy policies

Apple has updated its privacy policy to include location-based services. In a nutshell, Apple and partners may "collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device."
Written by Larry Dignan, Contributor

Apple has updated its privacy policy to include location-based services. In a nutshell, Apple and partners may "collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device."

That wording in Apple's full privacy policy has raised a little bit of consternation, but the company says the data is collected anonymously without personal identifiers.

The full passage:

To provide location-based services on Apple products, Apple and our partners and licensees may collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device. This location data is collected anonymously in a form that does not personally identify you and is used by Apple and our partners and licensees to provide and improve location-based products and services. For example, we may share geographic location with application providers when you opt in to their location services.

Some location-based services offered by Apple, such as the MobileMe “Find My iPhone” feature, require your personal information for the feature to work.

As CNet News' Erica Ogg notes, Apple's privacy changes read just like Android's.

What may be a bit jarring to folks is that Apple is now into advertising and services so the location-based services and data sharing may be a bit of a switch. For instance, a user expects Google to harness location data. Apple may not be viewed in that respect yet. Alternatively, the early reaction to Apple’s privacy policy changes is overblown.

Meanwhile, Apple has also posted a summary on how to opt out of its iAd program.

Related: All iPhone and Apple content.

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