Apple developed a service that shields users' browsing habits. But telecom providers are not happy about it and are coming out in opposition to Private Relay .
The providers Vodafone write that, Telefonica , Orange and T-Mobile in a letter to the European Commission. They already sent the letter last August, but British newspaper The Telegraph now saw it (1).
Private Relay is a service for Apple users with a paid iCloud -subscription. When users enable the feature, their browsing traffic in Apple's Safari browser is sent past two servers. First, an Apple server disconnects the IP address of the user who wants to visit a site. Then a remote server gives the user a temporary IP address and connects that person to the site. This ensures that no one, including Apple, can track users' browsing habits.
According to telecom providers, Private Relay prevents access to Internet data essential to manage networks. In addition, the service would stifle innovation. The tracking of browsing traffic that Apple Relay makes impossible is additionally commercially attractive to providers. By tracking this traffic, they can offer Internet users personalized ads, for example.
The providers point out that Private Relay goes against the Digital Markets Act (DMA). That law is part of the Digital Services Package from the European Commission and is supposed to regulate large online platforms such as Apple. The DMA includes transparency measures and user traceability obligations. The law won't take effect until next year at the earliest, but telecom providers are hoping to do something against Apple before then with their letter Relay before then.
This is not the first time Private has been criticized. Relay . Apple announced the feature in June 2021, and in October, experts also shared concerns about the service to The Telegraph (2). Indeed, the masking of browsing traffic would limit police investigative capabilities. Several countries, including China, have already banned the service.
(1) Apple
under
fire
over iPhone
encryption
tech
- The Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/01/09/apple-fire-iphone-encryption-tech/)
(2) Apple's encrypted browsing will make it harder for police to investigate dangerous criminals - The Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/02/apples-encrypted-browsing-will-make-harder-police-investigate/)
