What Next TBD: Apple Vision Pro: The Ultimate Surveillance Device?
Feb 18, 2024
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Geoffrey Fowler, tech columnist, discusses Apple Vision Pro goggles invading privacy with data collection on user behavior, potential misuse, and comparisons to Google Glass failures.
Apple Vision Pro can invade privacy by tracking users' eye movements and mapping their surroundings.
Concerns exist over the potential of third-party developers accessing sensitive data collected by Apple Vision Pro.
Deep dives
Concerns about the Vision Pro's Privacy and Data Collection
The Vision Pro, Apple's latest face computer, has raised privacy concerns due to its extensive data collection capabilities. With 12 cameras, six microphones, and multiple sensors, the device can map out users' surroundings, track their movements, and even monitor eye movements. This raises questions about who has access to this data, how it will be used, and the potential for surveillance. While Apple has implemented some limitations to protect user privacy, concerns remain about the data that is not restricted and the potential for third-party app developers to access and utilize sensitive information.
The Potential Implications of Room Mapping and Movement Tracking
One of the significant privacy concerns surrounding the Vision Pro is its ability to map users' rooms and precisely track their movements. This data, combined with facial identification and unique hand and head movements, can provide a comprehensive profile of individuals. Researchers have already found that movement data can be as effective as a fingerprint for identifying users. The implications of this detailed tracking raise questions about how the data may be used, who will have access to it, and the potential invasion of privacy.
The Significance of Eye Movement Tracking and Privacy Concerns
The Vision Pro's ability to track users' eye movements is a particularly concerning privacy issue. Advertisers and companies could gain valuable insights into users' desires, preferences, and interests based on what they focus on and how long they look at specific things. This level of detailed tracking poses significant privacy risks, as data about eye movements can reveal a great deal about an individual. While Apple initially restricts eye tracking data access, concerns persist about the company's ability to maintain limitations and the pressure to grant access to third-party developers.
Apple Vision Pro goggles might be a crime against fashion but with the amount of data they can collect—both on the world around the user and on the users themselves—they have the potential to invade privacy right down to where you’re looking and for how long.
Guest: Geoffrey Fowler, Washington Post tech columnist
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