Apple is now allowing customers in the EU to download all of the personal data the company holds.
A new privacy portal is now live, where users can download all of the information associated with their Apple ID. The move is designed to comply with the new GDPR privacy laws coming into effect.
It’ll give users access to purchase history from the company’s various platforms, including iTunes, the App Store and Apple Music. Likewise, you’ll be able to get information on physical in-store and online purchases, as well as Apple Care repairs.
The company is also offering access to data stored in iCloud, such as Safari bookmarks, photos, calendar entries and more.
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To access the tool, users will need to sign in with their Apple ID on the company’s privacy website. After logging in, customers can request downloadable report featuring the information Apple has possession of.
From there, users will be able to correct their data, or deactivate the account in order to restrict Apple’s access to the data. Finally, they’ll also be able to delete the account completely, along with all of the data associated with it.
If you do delete the Apple ID completely, you won’t be able to access many of Apple’s most popular services. For example, you won’t be able to make iTunes purchases, access iCloud email addresses or send iMessages to your friends.
However, if you’ve decided upon a life without Apple, or just want to start over and be more careful about what you share with the firm, this might be an option you want to explore.
Apple says the tool will roll out worldwide in the coming months (via 9to5Mac). Currently, users outside of the EU can only access the options to correct data or delete accounts.
Its arrival comes as Apple continues to push itself as an advocate for user privacy amid endless controversies over rivals’ misuse of personal information.
Do you trust Apple to keep your data safe more than companies like Facebook or Google, who’s business modes are defined by ad sales rather than hardware and services? Let us know @TrustedRevies on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
