Apple Falls From Top 20 List of Most Trusted Companies for Privacy

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Posted January 29, 2013 at 6:28pm by iClarified

Apple has fallen out of the Top 20 list of Most Trusted Companies for Privacy compiled by the Ponemon Institute.

Ponemon Institute’s Most Trusted Companies for Privacy Study is an objective study that asks consumers to name and rate organizations they believe are most committed to protecting the privacy of their personal information. This annual study tracks consumers’ rankings of organizations that collect and manage their personal information.

More than 100,000 adult-aged consumers were asked to name up to five companies they believe to be the most trusted for protecting the privacy of their personal information. Consumer responses were gathered over a 15-week period concluding in December 2012 and resulted in a final sample of 6,704 respondents who, on average, provided 5.4 discernible company ratings that represent 25 different industries.

American Express tops the list as the most trusted company for privacy. Notably, Microsoft joined the list this year as number 17. Apple had a seven year average rank of 11.3 before falling from the list this year.

Read More [via AppleInsider]

Apple Falls From Top 20 List of Most Trusted Companies for Privacy

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Ms K - March 25, 2013 at 1:43pm

Apple has lost my trust after the gross invasion of my privacy with Apple's Dictation software. This was my first ever attempt to make a written complaint and I imagined my issues would be addressed but I was so wrong. As a former Apple fan, I am instead forced to ask, I am a law graduate, what chance would other consumers have and my main question is what is Apple hiding? In response to an email from Martin Reed, a Data Privacy officer dated 25 March 2013, he wrongly again tries to confuse my request to provide me information about the personal data extracted by Dictation software and the operating system so I may make an informed decision about which sensitive information to delete. But he tries to link this with my Apple ID which grants me purchasing rights and access to services. Further to advice, I asked Apple to escalate the legal department to which Apple had forced me to write and address the issues regarding my consumer rights and data protection rights. This was because the Apple agent Martin Reed had not only failed to address the issues in my letters but undermined requests by confusing my Apple ID with my personal contacts and unknown ‘other information’ despite numerous clarifications. The personal contacts and ‘other information’ is extracted but not declared and presently held without my permission contrary to the Data Protection Act. The correspondence from Martin Reed, a Data Privacy Officer on 22 March 2013 said: “Your other questions and concerns are being reviewed and we expect to reply within a further 5 working days.” I was wrongly given the impression that all my correspondence would be properly reviewed by Apple’s legal department and the serious issues raised would be addressed in full. However, it appears that Apple is refusing to address the following issues: Firstly not declaring that a computer purchased from Apple with new software will invade an Apple consumers privacy upon use; secondly, the personal records extracted from Apple software and the new operating system will not be declared contrary to the Data Protection Act; thirdly this will compromise the ability of an Apple consumer to have sensitive personal data to be deleted contrary to the Data Protection Act; fourthly, it is disappointing for me as a former Apple fan that the world’s most advanced technological company only allows you to make a complaint in writing and has subsequently not only gone out of its way to ignore or obfuscate the issues but has spent considerable efforts in failing to address the issues and some of its staff have made false statements about UK law which has sought to deny me access to my statutory rights. I believe this to be the case for the following reasons: I wrote to Apple and explained that I had not understood the change to Apple culture and the intrusive nature of using Apple Dictation software. Further investigations revealed that Apple extract sensitive personal data and I asked for the immediate removal of this personal data. I gave notice for Apple to inform me about the nature of the personal information extracted by the operating system and Dictation software so I could make an informed decision as to the information I wanted to be deleted under the Data Protection Act. Given that I am now also aware that a company such as IBM bans the use of Apple voice assistant software, I believe consumers such as myself should protect their personal contacts and personal data. I asked for all personal data extracted by Apple software such as Dictation and the new operating systems to be deleted under the Data Protection Act. I stated that Martin Reed’s correspondence has sought to obfuscate matters by trying to confuse my request to remove personal data extracted by the operating system and the Dictation software with the purchasing guarantee and services granted by my Apple ID. I stipulated that I did not ask for my Apple ID to be removed but did ask for what “other information” is extracted by the Dictation software, the Apple operating system or other software. I set out very clearly why I believe that the extraction of the contacts and “other information [which Apple fails to declare] is excessive and unnecessary when compared to other voice software and why I believe it violates not only my privacy but those of my contacts given other voice software has no need to extract such information. I believe the extraction of this data to be an abuse of privacy. I have stipulated that at the time of purchase, Apple failed to declare that the software supplied has conditions for use which extract sensitive personal data contrary to Supply of Goods and Services Act. I consider this to be a misrepresentation. I consider the manner in which this information was extracted to be a breach of my contract with Apple and the implied conditions of trust revealing a change of culture. At the time of purchase, Apple failed to declare that the operating system and software supplied would invade my privacy if used. This makes such software worthless to me as a consumer. If Apple is extracting such data to try and catch up with Facebook and Google. These changes are at the expense of its consumers. I have said some Apple staff have made false statements which attempt to deny my consumer rights and prevent me from exercising my statutory rights by stipulating that consumer rights and privacy issues can only be addressed by the legal department and I need legal representation in order to have my issues addressed. I have stated that I believe Apple have breached my statutory rights as a consumer and in failing to declare that nature of the information extracted from the software. It is quite clear that Apple is refusing to divulge the full nature of the information extracted by the Dictation software and I have explained the circumstances in which Apple cannot consider a conditional use software to give permission for extraction of personal data. The failure to provide me with access to my personal datas which I have declared do not have my permission to be held by Apple and subsequently remove this data is an abuse of my rights.

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Bill - January 29, 2013 at 8:06pm

The ranking for the United States Postal Service tells me all I need to know. This survey is clearly a joke.

Thoune - January 30, 2013 at 12:13am

I agree that it's a joke! Facebook has no trusted in protecting privacy. People post other people with just one click !!!

Jimmy Justice - January 29, 2013 at 7:37pm

steve jobs pass away and now apple is losing it touch. Their stock market quote are bad and tim cook is not a good CEO.

lemon4611 - January 29, 2013 at 7:41pm

This is just a survey on what people perceive. This is not a statement that any of these companies do a good or bad job of protecting your privacy. Your comment about Steve Jobs and current Apple Management is ridiculous.

Brandon - January 30, 2013 at 2:14am

JimmyJustice has a point!! vinnyg wake up!! Apple is losing stock value and now it easy to find out leak new model of apple products!! Tim Cook not outgoing, he just a stiff dude with dull voice. Btw vinnyg please do your homework before criticize commenter.

Diana - January 30, 2013 at 2:53am

lol i agree with ken, vinnyg is the one that started the whole mess and he should think twice before posting reply.