If there's one thing Apple prides itself on, it's that it maintains users' privacy. In fact, that's something it usually toots its own horn about, comparing itself often to the likes of Google and Facebook.
So this latest case against them might take the wind out of their sails.
Images courtesy: Reuters
A new class-action lawsuit has been filed against Apple in a California district court. It's been filed by three individuals in two different US states, all of whom claim Apple's "disclosures of the Personal Listening Information of Plaintiffs and the other unnamed Class members were not only unlawful, they were also dangerous because such disclosures allow for the targeting of particularly vulnerable members of society."
Basically, the lawsuit accuses Apple of sharing user data with third parties in such a way that they can "supplement that information with additional sensitive personal information" that's usually disclosed by the company. The filing goes on to claim that these third parties have then gone on to disclose that data to other third parties, "for further exploitation and monetization-all without providing prior notice to or obtaining the requisite consent from anyone."
"For example, any person or entity could rent a list with the names and addresses of all unmarried, college-educated women over the age of 70 with a household income of over $80,000 who purchased country music from Apple via its iTunes Store mobile application," the suit states. "Such a list is available for sale for approximately $136 per thousand customers listed."
Aside from sharing listening data from someone's iTunes account being illegal, if done without consent, it can open people up to malicious actors like fraudulent telemarketers and the like
The lawsuit describes how issues concerning the sharing of customers' listening data with developers were raised developer Ben Dodson on his blog, as well as in a bug report to Apple. However, despite reportedly contacting him to let him know they were aware of it, the suit says Apple did not resolve the problem until a full eight months later, with the release of iOS 10.
The class action lawsuit is being filed on behalf of other Apple customers in the two states that "had their personal listening information disclosed to third parties by Apple without their consent." It's seeking $250 for each customer in Rhode Island and $5,000 each for those in Michigan.
Apple has not yet commented on the matter.