If you are an iOS user, you are probably aware that Apple likes to tout its products for their functionality.security. But as we have seen before,this communication strategy could in fact hide several other objectives linked to anti-competitive practices. In any case, the French consumer association UFC Que Choisir, founded in 1951, has just won a legal battle on this subject against Cupertino in the Paris court.
The Irish subsidiary of the firm, which is the most prolific in Europedespite the reluctance of the Commission, will thus have to fulfill20,000 euros in damagesto settle the judgment. A sum certainly ridiculous compared to the billions in profits of the company, but symbolic for its opponent who will also benefit from an additional 10,000 euros dedicated to reimbursement of costs incurred during the affair.
What do we blame Apple for?
It is therefore once again themanagement of our personal datawhich is in question here. In particular with regard to the rules for subscribing to iTunes and Apple Music, the general conditions of use of which have been closely analyzed by Que Choisir on occasion:
[Apple] considered, for example, that the IP address, the profession, the advertising identifier, the postal code or even thegeolocationof users was not “personal” data, and was therefore not protected by the rules of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). […] Apple also does not explain precisely enough what it does with user data, norto whom he is likely to sell themor share them, nor that ittrack usersfor marketing purposes with cookies.
The verdict does not, however, require Tim Cook's company to modify its T&Cs, and it is difficult to know whether such a measure will be taken internally.
