WASHINGTON, DC – The Electronic Frontier Foundation says a patent application by Apple Inc. looks suspiciously like spyware and what the EFF calls “traitorware.”
EFF writer Julie Samuels reports that the Apple patent application is for technology that would allow the company to identify and punish users who tinker with their devices, such as by jailbreaking an iPhone.
“This patent application does nothing short of providing a roadmap for how Apple can — and presumably will — spy on its customers and control the way its customers use Apple products,” Samuels writes.
She says the patent application provides for a device to determine a user’s identity, whether or not the user is unauthorized, record the voice of a user, determine the current location of the device, and take a photo of the location and even determine the user’s heartrate – all without the user’s knowledge.
All without your knowledge
Apple does not say in the application how it would use the information, how long it will keep it, or who it would share it with. EFF warns that if Apple collects the information, sooner or later, law enforcement will come for it or may order Apple to turn it on. Also, a not uncommon data breach could expose the personal information collected to third parties, EFF says.
While apparently aimed at locating stolen devices and shutting off access to personally sensitive information, the patent allows for much more than required for those uses, the EFF says.
The EFF calls the patent application “downright creepy and invasive,” and suggests the company shelve the idea before it backfires.
Personally, while we’re not enamored of Apple products particularly, this reminds us of the government slogan in 1984, “Big Brother is Watching,” with “Steve Jobs” substituted for Big Brother.
This is sure to kick up controversy as it becomes better known.
To contact TechJournal South Editor & Writer Allan Maurer: Allan at TechJournalSouth dot com.
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Tags: Apple Inc., Electronic Frontier Foundation, iPhone, patent application, spyware, traitorware
