Recently, Apple introduced a new tool that allows you to request and download a file containing everything that Apple knows about you, which contains all the data that Apple has collected, whether through its stores or through iCloud, or applications, products and services. Learn about this tool and how to use it.


Why did Apple allow this tool to be provided?

Which made Apple allow the provision of that tool and the availability of that information, in order to comply with the new European Union legislation in what is known as the General Data Protection Law, which is known as the GDPR, and to comply with the laws specifically designed to better protect individual privacy in the Internet era. And it is not just Apple, but every company in the world that provides services to any European citizen must abide by the law, including companies such as Google, Facebook and Twitter. This makes it much easier for users to compare the amount and depth of information these companies carry.

This matter became an urgent necessity after the disclosure of companies and organizations that reached this data for use in political, commercial or other purposes. On top of those companies was Cambridge Analytica and the Facebook scandal, which allowed it to breach the data of nearly 87 million users for political purposes. Facebook issued an official apology for that, which was met with ridicule and contempt for the matter. Even Apple founder Steve Wozniak deleted his Facebook account in protest. And because security of user privacy is one of Apple's core principles; And what is the story of the attempt to unlock the iPhone, the California incident and the FBI?


What kind of information does Apple keep?

Apple does not keep all the straying and incoming of your personal data the way advertising companies and search engines do, and often the data saved with Apple is anonymous and does not keep location data. Among the information that Apple maintains, according to the company, the following is mentioned:

◉ When creating an Apple ID, Apple records data about you such as your address, phone number and many details that you add.

◉ When sharing content with family and friends who use Apple products, the company has the right to record the data of these people, such as name, postal address, email address, and phone number, and Apple clarifies that this information is used to fulfill your request.

◉ In some legal situations and litigation, Apple may request a government-issued ID

ITunes Subscriptions Match records all your music, even songs that you have imported from other sources such as CDs, on all of your devices.

◉ Customer support inquiries

◉ Maintenance

◉ Activity data on Apple forums.


Collection and use of non-personal information

Apple also clarifies that some non-personal information is collected for use in developing its services, and Apple clarifies that this data is collected and stored in a form that does not allow it to be linked directly to any specific person. Apple clarifies that it may use, transmit and disclose this type of data for any purpose. Here are some examples of the non-personal information we collect and how we use it:

◉ Function, language, postal code, area code, unique device identifier, location, and time zone in order to better understand customer behavior and improve products.

Apple collects data on customer activities on websites such as the cloud website, iTunes, book applications, software store, and others, and is collected for the same purpose, which is to improve functionality.

◉ Apple clarifies that after your explicit consent, it has the right to collect data on how you use devices and applications to help application developers improve applications.

Important clarification from Apple: If we do link non-personal information with personal information, the combined information will be treated as personal information for as long as it remains combined.


How do you get your information collected by Apple about you?

At any time, if you want to know or check personal information, take the following steps:

◉ Visit this page from Here.

◉ Choose Privacy issues - you will be asked to select your region - then enter your information, email, and order address, and in the comments field write “I am requesting a copy of my personal information.” Which means “Request a copy of my personal information” - then click Submit.


What will happen next?

Then Apple's privacy team will contact you and request some data to confirm your identity. Then the team will collect the data and present it to you as a closed zip file, which opens with a passcode, and the process can take a week.

After viewing data, if you find any errors in it, you can request that they be changed or deleted.

Did you know about these changes? Did you review your data and get your information with Apple? Let us know in the comments

Sources:

Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), | computer world

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