What's new in privacy?

What's New in Privacy

Apple has introduced several new features and enhancements in privacy with iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, focusing on their privacy pillars: data minimization, on-device processing, transparency and control, and security. Here are the key updates:

1. Privacy Pillars:

   • Data Minimization: Collecting only the minimum amount of data required.
   • On-Device Processing: Performing computations locally to avoid server-side processing risks.
   • Transparency and Control: Making it clear what data is collected and giving users control over its use.
   • Security: Providing technical guarantees and enforcement of privacy protections.

2. New Pickers:

   • New pickers allow users to share only the data they want without permission prompts, creating in-context data-sharing experiences with customizable UI. This includes pickers for accessories, contacts, and transactions (New pickers).

3. Private Wi-Fi Controls:

   • Introduction of private Wi-Fi controls for MAC address rotation on iOS and macOS to prevent tracking through MAC addresses (Private Wi-Fi).

4. Permission Changes:

   • Enhanced transparency and control over access to local network, Bluetooth, and contacts. For example, iOS 18 provides more transparency and control by allowing users to select specific contacts to share (Contacts access permission).

5. Locked and Hidden Apps:

   • A new system feature that allows users to lock sensitive apps to prevent unauthorized access when handing their device to others (Locked and hidden apps).

6. Private Caller ID:

   • Implementation of live caller ID without revealing sensitive information like incoming phone numbers, using private information retrieval technology (Private caller ID).

These updates are designed to enhance user privacy while providing developers with the tools to create secure and user-friendly applications.

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