Apple now lets users download any data the iPhone maker has collected on them.
On Wednesday, Apple launched a dedicated privacy portal for US users that lets them request a copy of their data, correct any errors and pause or delete their Apple account.
It follows the launch of a privacy portal for European users in May, as part of Apple’s compliance with the new General Data Protection Regulation rules, which require firms to have a data portability tool, among other things to protect users and their data.
On Wednesday, Apple launched a dedicated privacy portal for US users that lets them request a copy of their data, correct any errors and pause or delete their Apple account:
HOW DO YOU DOWNLOAD YOUR DATA FROM APPLE?
- Head to Apple’s and log into your Apple account.
- Click on ‘Manage Your Privacy’ in the upper toolbar.
- Scroll down to the ‘Take charge of your data section.’
- Click on ‘Visit your Data and Privacy page.’
- Select the ‘Get a copy of your data’ option.
- From there, you can select specific types of data to receive, or click ‘select all’ to receive everything.
In addition to US users, customers in Canada, Australia and New Zealand can also take advantage of the portal.
Users can see and search through the data collected, which many include things like photos, iCloud data, calendar entries, documents, App Store purchases and a history of repairs on your devices, along with other information.
Prior to the tool launching, users could request their data by contacting Apple directly.
After a user requests their data, they’ll have to wait a few days for Apple to prepare the file.
Apple stores most of your data on your device, instead of on its servers, so it’s likely that the report won’t include that much information.
To use the privacy portal, go to Apple’s privacy website and log into your Apple account. If you have two-factor authentication turned on, Apple will send a six-digit code to your iOS device, such as an iPhone or iPad, and you can use that to log in on the Privacy website.
In the upper toolbar, click on ‘Manage Your Privacy’ and then scroll down to the heading that reads ‘Take charge of your data.’
From there, click on the ‘Visit your Data and Privacy page’ and select the ‘Get a copy of your data’ option.
Users head to Apple’s privacy site and are instructed to log into their account. From there, it gives them the option to request a copy of their data, correct it and delete their account:
Apple stores most of your data on your device, instead of on its servers, so it’s likely that the report won’t include that much information. The file may include things like calendar entries, documents, App Store purchases and a history of repairs on your devices
‘Select the data you’d like to download, and we’ll prepare a copy for you. This process may take up to seven days,’ the site reads.
‘To ensure the security of your data, we use this time to verify that the request was made by you.’
The launch of the privacy portal comes as Apple introduced other updates to its Privacy Page.
The firm typically issues some changes to its Privacy site each fall with the introduction of new products and software.
These changes coincide with the release of iOS 12 and macOS Mojave, which both include new privacy and security tools.
Apple’s revamped privacy website also delves briefly into its policies around differential privacy.
Apple uses differential privacy to discern which features need to be improved, like emoji and QuickType suggestions, without having to study data on an individual user’s activity.
WHAT KINDS OF DATA HAS APPLE COLLECTED ON YOU?
Apple rolled out a privacy portal for US users after launching it in the EU in May.
The portal lets users download any data that Apple may have on them.
It may take up to a week for the file to be sent.
Similar to other data portability features, users are emailed a file with all the data in a compatible format so that it can be moved to a new cloud service if they wish.
Tim Cook stated on MSNBC that “privacy is a human right (like freedom of speech and freedom of the press)”:
Here are the kinds of data that Apple has stored from users:
- Apple ID information
- App Store activity
- Apple Music activity
- AppleCare history
- iCloud photos
- Documents stored in the iCloud
- iCloud bookmarks
- Reminders
- App usage history
- Calendars
- iCloud contacts
- Game Center statistics
- Marketing subscriptions
- Downloads
Apple uses differential privacy to discern which features need to be improved, without having to study data on an individual user’s activity.
Instead, the firm collects data from many users, scrambles it so that it can’t be traced back to any one individual.
Apple’s Tim Cook defends Face ID ‘We’re about your privacy’:
Apple says it uses this data to look for trends in usage, such as the most commonly texted emoji, or things that could improve, like developing more effective QuickType suggestions.
The site also goes into how Apple protects your data, with the latest feature including encrypted FaceTime calls.
By Annie Palmer for Dailymail.com
