Sadly also Apple collects data on their users. Last year around 300TB a day on what users search for, which apps they use, how many times, where you click and navigate through the OS and in the apps, etc. :(
Which, is also the main argument of the OP for preferring Apple.
I'd guess that Apple really collects less data because they want to preserve your battery life, not your privacy.
I assumed that PRISM data came from a "backdoor" it had to iPhones. There's no proof that PRISM data didn't come from a backdoor to iPhones. But there's no proof it did come from a backdoor either. So I'll take back that comment.
1. Do they share this data with people?
2. Is this data anonymized?
3. Is this data directly monetized, or otherwise give incentives to violate user privacy?
Google was once the "don't be evil" company.
So it is simple: Apple has a choice. Google doesn’t.
Where? I can't identify a single non-tech-oriented person in my life who makes phone purchasing decisions based off of vague notions like privacy.
In fact, I'd say that the market does not demand privacy, it is ambivalent to it. I don't agree with ambivalence, but I also don't see consumers making privacy-minded purchases, either.
- handled
- available for access by employees
- retained, deleted, and stored
etc.. are at least as important for your privacy.
As someone who works in security, I am as concerned or more about the seemingly inevitable breach's impact on my privacy.
- does not use that data to sell stuff to you.
- don't have a reason to profile you and store those profiles constantly updated.
- don't have a reason to "follow" you across the web everywhere you go to update that profile.
Just having that profile on you makes a company a liability. C you trust a company that makes money solely based on the information they collect about you to make decisions that benefit you? or your privacy and security?