Several iPhone apps, including Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X/Twitter, are allegedly bypassing Apple’s privacy rules to collect user data through notifications, as per tests conducted by security researchers at Mysk Inc., an app development company. The researchers found that closing apps to prevent background data collection doesn’t stop this method. The collected data appears unnecessary for notification processing and is potentially linked to analytics, advertising, and cross-app/device user tracking. While Meta and LinkedIn deny the data is used for advertising, the researchers suggest it’s a widespread problem across the iPhone ecosystem. This isn’t the first time Mysk’s tests have revealed data issues with Apple, highlighting a potential challenge to Apple’s privacy claims.
In October 2023, Mysk found a privacy issue with an iPhone feature related to WiFi addresses. In 2022, Mysk’s findings led to over a dozen class action lawsuits against Apple for collecting data despite user privacy settings. The collected data seems suited for “fingerprinting,” a method of identifying users based on seemingly harmless device details, a practice forbidden by Apple. Despite Apple’s efforts to offer user control over data collection, these revelations suggest ongoing challenges in enforcing privacy safeguards. Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X/Twitter have not immediately responded to inquiries about these findings, while Apple, in general, has faced scrutiny over its privacy claims and practices.
