James Delahunty
13 Jan 2006 19:57
A new feature in Apple's iTunes music software was widely criticised because it collects data on the tracks users select in order to make recommendations on other music tracks to purchase. The MiniStore feature sends the data about a selected track to the iTunes music store just to help make recommendations, but bloggers discovered that it also sends unique identifiers for a computer and iTunes account. Users said Apple had to be more open about data being collected.
The company was quick to respond however to tell concerned users that it doesn't store the collected data. Additionally, Apple does mention in the licence agreement for iTunes that it contacts the Gracenote music database to work out which album is being played via the program. Still though, privacy advocates complained that Apple had not done enough to warn people about the information that was being collected, nor what was being done with the collected data.
"Apple should be clear about its information gathering practices," wrote blogger Marc Garrett, who wrote a journal entry about MiniStore and the data it passes back to Apple shortly after the update. The feature doesn't just collect data on music you bought from iTunes in your playlist either. In the past, Microsoft and RealNetworks have gotten into trouble for similar snooping. However, in those cases, neither disclosed their actions.
Source:
BBC News