Steve Jobs has apparently responded to a customer's email asking about iOS location tracking controversy that emerged last week, saying that Apple does not 'track anyone'.

A couple of ex-Apple developers unearthed evidence that iOS 4 devices have been logging and time-stamping their location co-ordinates and syncing them to a file on the user's computer - thus keeping tabs on everywhere the device (and its owner) have been and when.

Apple's PR team has so far kept schtum on the issue, but Steve Jobs has seemingly taken matters into his own hands, replying to a MacRumors reader's email on the matter.

A man of few words

Jobs wrote: "We don't track anyone. The info circulating around is false."

He also took a couple of seconds to succinctly stick the knife into Android, responding to the customer's threat to "switch to a Droid" because "they don't track me."

"Oh yes they do," quoth Jobs, thus supporting a claim by researcher Samy Kamkar who has found that Google also collects location data of Android phones every few seconds and stores it in a file on the handset – but goes as far as to regularly send that data back to Google.

Jobs' short email seems to claim that Apple isn't actively gathering the location information collected by iPhones and iPads; but if that's the case, why are its iOS devices collecting all that data to begin with?

From MacRumors

Read more: http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and ... z1KftsLLBp

You have to wonder what the Apple PR department is actually like, don't you?

So, the people who have found these files are halucinating?

The files exist, the 'phones have been tracking their users. I think he is telling a half truth, in that Apple, probably, don't collect that information (yet).

It seems Jobs is correct and not only does Apple not track anyone, if it did the data would be neither accurate or complete: http://smithsocksimon.net/2011/04/22/a-last-word/ . The issue really is the fact that the data isn’t secure, though that can be remedied.

Tagged but not tracked. We'll see.

Indeed, though I’d be a lot more concerned if I was an Android user. And even more if I had a PlayStation.

I'd say the issue is that is been tracking the data for so long without an explicit "yes I agree to it", If Apple are not using the data, why do it? Why have a data file created to track (what might or might not be accurate) the users whereabouts for so long and why cant you be a bit more open about the reasons. A quick statement "oh its there to help get a better connection" rather than a "sarcy" email from skeletor. also an opt out for the more concerned/paranoid users would be nice.

I think that the feature was for a yet unplanned feature of the iPhones. One blogger suggested a feature where you could meet your friends if they are in the area.

Like the emergancy Pizza option?

Yes does anyone else have that option?

I'm wondering if the location data is linked to the MobileMe feature "Find my iPhone".
Just a thought.

How is this different to the mobile phone operators' keeping track of when and where your mobile phone makes and receives calls - which I believe they do? Obviously, there's data stored on the iPhone itself, but it's effectively the same principal as the mobile operators' database isn't it, maybe that's not as accurate?

It is slightly better. As no one unless they have access to your iPhone or computer will be able to access it.

Official statement

They're basically claiming the fact the cache was kept permanently is a bug.

Your blog pretty much sums up my understanding of the situation. The iPhone is tracking where it has been (which GSM masts it connected to), but it isn't sent to Apple, currently.

It seems a lot of people don't actually read the press and just think that it is the GPS tracking and that switching that off will stop the iPhone tracking its movements...

I think it is disingenuous of Steve Jobs to dismiss it in the way he does. The iPhone is tracking its movements, so he should address that, as opposed to saying Apple don't track people and Android is just as bad.

May that is why his last biography was called iCon


There are apps that do that, and they use the GPS to do it, which is more accurate.


The Find my iPhone feature only needs the current location, it doesn't need to know where it was a year ago.

The provider information is more secure. The problem with this, is the default is that the data is stored unencrypted on the phone and on the synced PC, which means anyone who hacks into the PC can see where you have been. Maybe not really something that is dangerous for most people, but still an invasion of privacy.

And in America, many police departments have the ability and the authority to download the contents of your 'phone when they stop you for anything... Which means they don't need to contact the provider with a writ to get the tracking information - and the iPhone's tracking is much more extensive, at least compared to Germany, where the telcos have to delete the information after a couple of weeks.

Edit: A bug? If it is a bug, why have they patented it? US PTO Clicky


My highlighting.

Jobs: “We are building a crowdsourced database based on traffic and that is what we are saying.”

Anonymous data, collected with the user’s permission (albeit permission granted by a very tangential permission request).

But otherwise he confirms what I wrote in my blog post: http://mobilized.allthingsd.com/2011042 ... -location/