Were you already paranoid someone was listening in your cell phone calls? Well, if you own an iPhone, your paranoia of being watched is about to get magnified. The SlashGear crew says Apple has been spying on iPhone users via weather and stocks applications, tracking where users are and what they're up to in the stock market.
"Apple is tracking where you are and what stocks you're looking up. Whenever you access the Stock or Weather application the data is sent to an Apple.com URL along with your IMEI (the fingerprint of any GSM cell phone).
Apple could be using the data collected for any number of reasons. Maybe Mr. Jobs just wants to know when you buy or sell Apple stock. Some have suggested that it is a method of tracking the number of unlocked iPhones."
Implications - Though technological advancement can do amazing things, the likeliness of a company accessing a consumer's personal information is less than most would expect.
Apple Stalks iPhone Users
Weather & Stocks Apps As Spy Tools
Trend Themes
1. Iphone Privacy Concerns - The heightened awareness of iPhone users on the violation of privacy by big tech companies may lead to a growing demand for more secure devices.
2. Location-based Marketing - The controversy over Apple's use of smartphones to track user locations and search histories increases the potential for location-based marketing disruption opportunities.
3. Data Privacy Regulation - Concerns over data privacy and security violations by large tech companies have increased consumer awareness and demand for regulatory oversight, creating opportunities for new data privacy startups.
Industry Implications
1. Mobile Device Manufacturing - Companies that prioritize ethical data collection and provide greater transparency in their data usage stand to gain market share in the competitive mobile device manufacturing industry.
2. Cybersecurity - As more breaches of personal data occur, the demand for disruptive cybersecurity solutions is on the rise, creating opportunities for businesses that focus on protecting user privacy.
3. Fintech - Expanding FinTech services based on individual preferences without jeopardizing their personal identity may disrupt the market, providing consumers with the ability to control their privacy while providing solutions to access financial services.