Apple Is Owed a Heated Privacy Lawsuit Regarding Its Apps

A federal judge has pared down a lawsuit against Apple that accuses the tech giant of violating the privacy of iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users by collecting personal data through its own apps, such as the App Store, Apple Music, and Apple TV.

Apple Is Owed a Heated Privacy Lawsuit Regarding Its Apps                                              Photo Credit : Reuters

In a ruling from U.S. District Judge Edward Davila, based in San Jose, California, the court dismissed most claims tied to Apple’s "Allow Apps to Request to Track" setting on its mobile devices. This feature controls how third-party apps track user activity. However, the judge allowed some claims to proceed, particularly those focusing on the "Share [Device] Analytics" setting.

At the heart of the lawsuit, users allege that Apple misled them by promising that disabling certain privacy settings would restrict the company’s ability to collect, store, and use their data. Despite these assurances, users claim that Apple ignored their choices and continued to gather personal information. The case is one of many that have emerged against technology companies like Apple, Google, and Meta, accusing them of data collection without user consent.

In a detailed 39-page ruling issued late Thursday, Judge Davila highlighted that Apple had been transparent in explaining the "Allow Apps to Request to Track" setting, noting it only applied to data collection by third-party apps and websites. The judge concluded that it would be unreasonable for users to believe that by turning this setting off, they were stopping Apple from collecting data through its own services.

However, the ruling took a different tone regarding the "Share [Device] Analytics" setting. Judge Davila found that users could reasonably argue they had withdrawn consent for data collection when disabling this option. Apple’s own disclosures suggested that turning off this setting would entirely stop the sharing of device analytics, giving users a plausible case.

Apple has stated that data gathered through the "Share [Device] Analytics" setting is used to improve its products and services. The company, along with lawyers for the plaintiffs, has yet to respond publicly to the judge's decision. 

The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, underscores growing concerns around how tech giants handle personal data, sparking legal challenges that could shape the future of privacy in the digital age.