The head of Epic Games criticized Apple's Find My service for potential threats to privacy, despite its global availability and functionality. This has sparked a debate about the balance between convenience and security of user data.
Criticism of Apple Find My
Tim Sweeney's reaction
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney expressed his negative attitude towards Apple's Find My service, focusing on the possibility of unauthorized tracking of people. His comment on social network X was prompted by 9to5mac's post about the service's global availability, excluding South Korea.
Sweeney's personal experience
Sweeney shared his own experience using Latitude, telling about the case of theft of his Mac laptop from his car. Years later, after checking the service, he found on the map the location of the house where the device thief lived. This fact raised serious questions for him about the ethics of such functionality.
Apple Find My functionality
Apple's Find My service is designed to search for branded devices, AirTags and compatible products even when there is no Internet connection. The technology is based on periodic transmission of Bluetooth signals that can be detected by other Apple devices in range. Users can share their location with friends, use precision crowd searching, play a sound on the device, send messages to the finder, and wipe data remotely.
AirTag Privacy Issues
Apple's AirTag trackers have previously raised concerns about the potential for them to be used to improperly track people without their knowledge . In response, Apple has implemented a number of security measures. The AirTag now beeps when it is near someone it doesn't belong to, and the user's iPhone is notified when someone else's tracker has been nearby for an extended period of time.
System imperfections
Despite the implemented security measures, the system sometimes fails. For example, Apple's AirTag security algorithms incorrectly identified an Engadget journalist's pet as a potential stalker, demonstrating the need for further improvements to the technology.
Glossary
- Epic Games is an American video game and software developer
- Apple - technology corporation, manufacturer of electronics and software
- AirTag - wireless tracker for finding things from Apple
- Tim Sweeney - CEO and Founder of Epic Games
- Engadget - popular technology website and blog about consumer electronics
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Answers to questions
Why Tim Sweeney criticizes Apple's Find My service ?
What are the main features of Apple Find My?
How does Apple Find My work?
What steps has Apple taken to improve AirTag security?
Are there any problems with the AirTag security system?
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Discussion of the topic – Tim Sweeney: Is Apple's Find My feature a privacy threat or a necessary tool?
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney criticized Apple's Find My service, calling it "creepy surveillance technology." His comment in X was in response to news of the service's global availability, excluding South Korea.
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Isabella
Wow, I didn't know Find My could be such a dangerous tool! 😱 Although, on the other hand, it helped Tim Sweeney find his stolen laptop. Maybe we should limit the duration of the function?
Hans
Isabella, I agree that this is a double-edged sword. But imagine how this can help in emergency situations! For example, if a child is lost. I think we just need to improve our privacy settings. 🤔
Sophie
Guys, did you know that AirTag now beeps if it stays near a stranger for a long time? Apple seems to be trying to solve the surveillance problem. 🔊
Pierre
Sophie, yes, but the system is still not perfect. I recently read how an Engadget journalist was chased by her own dog 😂 The algorithm decided that the dog was a stalker!
Gunther
All this hype about new technologies is bullshit. Previously, we lived without any locators and got along just fine. And now everyone is obsessed with spying on each other. Nonsense.
Francesca
Gunther, but you must admit, sometimes such functions really save. My friend found his lost iPhone thanks to Find My. Maybe we should just take a more responsible approach to using it? 🤷♀️
Oleksandr
Francesca is right, user responsibility is important. But Apple must continue to improve the system. I wonder how they will solve the problem of the service in South Korea? 🇰🇷
Isabella
Oleksandr, good question! Maybe there are some special privacy laws there? In any case, I hope Apple will find a balance between functionality and security. We will monitor the development of the situation! 👀