Privacy Implications for iTunes Users
PC Magazine provides some insight into the traffic that is sent back to Apple when users listen to songs in their iTunes collection. This is apparently a due to a new “feature” called “MiniStore.” This allows Apple to place advertisements in your iTunes window. In a follow-up posting, the author, Oliver Kaven, comments on how this is different from the accepted web practice of showing advertisements based on your browsing history while visiting an online store:
I think one significant difference between Barnes&Noble or Amazon and iTunes is the fact that the iTunes provides the additional services even though you are not shopping for songs at the time.
To exaggerate a little, imagine Barnes&Nobel calling you after you picked up a book on Italian cuisine off your nightstand, telling you that they also have books on French cooking available.
In his weblog, Marc Garrett asks this question:
Why shouldn’t the MiniStore feature be opt-in instead of opt-out?
From a privacy point of view, opt-in is a better default. Even if no personal information is retained at Apple, they could change this policy in the future. From a commerce point of view, opt-out is better. Apple wants to have as many folks see their advertisements as possible. Of course, if Apple alienates their users…
