San Francisco, CA: Apples is facing a lawsuit seeking class action status, over allegations of privacy violations among users of iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad users. Specifically, the suit alleges that Apple collected data from users of these devices, such as browsing history, application use and other personal details, and shared with advertisers without the knowledge of the users.
The suit, filed in January, 2011 on behalf of an Apple user in California, states "Apple's privacy policy is opaque and confusing but one thing is clear: it does not inform mobile device users that by providing application developers with their UDID, Apple enables them to put a name to highly personal and in many cases embarrassing information derived from app downloading activity and usage, and internet browsing history, that would otherwise be anonymous."
Each mobile Apple device has a Unique Device Identifier, or UDID. Application developers have access to that number, which offers information about a user's browsing history every time the user clicks on an ad or an application, according to the suit. Developers sometimes sell the data to tracking companies, the suit alleges.
The suit notes that Apple's privacy policy says that personal information will be shared by Apple to improve services and advertising but that it won't be shared with third parties for their marketing purposes.
The class will include all Apple customers in the U.S. who have downloaded and used apps on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch after July 10, 2008.
