As we share more and more of our personal data with third-party services, the issue of what those services are doing to protect our data becomes more important. If you've ever wondered which companies do the most (and which do the least) to protect your data from the government, U.S. non-profit advocacy company, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, has you covered.
In an infographic entitled "Who Has Your Back?" the EFF has taken information gleaned from the policies of major Internet companies and laid out which companies do the most to protect users' data from the government. According to the EFF's list, Twitter does a lot to protect your data when the government comes knocking. The microblogging site requires a warrant for content, informs users of government requests for data, publishes transparency reports and law enforcement guidelines, and fights for users' privacy rights in court and congress. By comparison, Apple only fights for users' privacy rights in congress, but takes no other steps to protect users' data from the government. Similarly, Yahoo will fight for users' privacy rights in court but takes no other action. Web giant Google ticks all the boxes but doesn't tell users' about government requests for data. Meanwhile, Facebook publishes law enforcement guidelines, requires a warrant for content, and fights for users' privacy rights in congress but MySpace ticks no boxes at all.
The good news is that, in general, the EFF saw an increase in the number of companies publishing law enforcement guidelines compared to last year. In 2013, seven new companies were awarded stars in this category (Comcast, Foursquare, Google, Microsoft, SpiderOak, Tumblr, and Wordpress). There was also an increase in the number of companies promising to give users notice of law enforcement requests for their information.
Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.
People need to remember that Apple is still just a hardware company in the core... Selling hardware is always the first priority... software, web stuff, data protection are all secondary. Just like Sony never famous for their "data protection" :P
I'm not defending Apple, but in the full report it's saying Comcast is better because Apple because they defending a client in court with their data rights but when Congress tries to change privacy laws they did nothing whilst Apple sent their lawyers (not a huge loss considering they have an army of them) to defend their users. Not saying either of them are good, but don't make Comcast out to be this changed angel company because they beat the all-not-so-powerful Apple in half a category haha.
People need to remember that Apple is still just a hardware company in the core... Selling hardware is always the first priority... software, web stuff, data protection are all secondary. Just like Sony never famous for their "data protection" :P
I would of classed apple as a Software / Design company. I get what your saying tho its all about selling hardware. However they don't actually make much.
Should the fact that Verizon is dead last (no stars) be more of a news event? After all Verizon is an ISP and Mobile carrier and has access to MUCH more data than Apple does.
