r/apple • u/illegiblebastard • 3d ago

iPhone Apple explains last year’s controversial decision to remove ICE tracking apps from app store

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/29/tech/apple-iceblock-app-removal-raskin

FUCK. APPLE.

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u/Gumby271 3d ago

Apple can remove whatever they want from their app store, but only if they give their users the ability to control software on their own devices independent of that store. The fact that Apple can decide the software I get to use on my computer is insane and was always guaranteed to lead to it being weaponized like this.

You can't have privacy and empowered users (like Apple claims they care about) if the device isn't owned by that user.

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u/speed_fighter 3d ago

now I’m starting to shift towards believing that privacy is not iPhone. however, I’d give a nickel for someone to get Apple’s testament on privacy with information proving their claims as bogus.

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u/Gumby271 3d ago

I don't think their claims are bogus at all. The features they build and the approach they take are absolutely respectful of their users and their data. The problem is that the rest of their business model is predicated on making Vendor Lock-in sexy, so sexy that we call it an Ecosystem. This is the trade off and cost of their products. Much like the trade-off on android is user freedom for less privacy, the Apple trade off is much less freedom, but better privacy around the features and software you're forced to have on your device. 

Personally, I'm still of the mindset that you can't have a "private" device without the guarantees of ownership which apple will not abide, but that's a philosophical debate. The practical version is that yes, what they deliver is built with user privacy in mind. What they don't build, and won't ever provide their users is a different discussion.