Walt Mossberg has another great piece today over at Re/Code. And his analysis, as usual, is spot on about how Apple is using “privacy” as a key differentiator from it’s competitors in services (notably Google, but Facebook, Twitter, and even Bing to an extent; probably many more).
But Mr. Mossberg has conflated his terms and in a debate this important I don’t think that’s the right way forward. Words mean things and in this case, “privacy” isn’t Apple’s product at all.
Apple doesn’t own privacy. They aren’t even selling it. They’re simply respecting it by not invading it or asking for in trade for services.
My privacy, is mine. That’s the point Apple was trying to make at WWDC. It’s what Google (et al) don’t want us to remember. We have our privacy by default. It’s ours. It’s not a product until WE sell it in exchange for free email or picture storage.
Apple gets that. Their message wasn’t “we’ll give you privacy where others won’t.” Their message was “we respect your privacy and won’t even ask you to give it up."
Google’s mindset is the total opposite. We want all the data in the world- yours included- but since we can’t just take it (without getting into trouble- more than a few times) we’re going to offer you a treat in trade.
Mr. Mossberg’s facts are straight as they always are. He gets it. But his article reads a bit too much like “Apple is giving you this gift of privacy where Google offers no such treat.” And for me in this debate, I think that’s missing a key point.
My privacy is mine just as yours is yours. No company can make it a “product” until they have it from us. Google is trying to get it by any means necessary. Apple has other ways to make money- which is why they will keep getting mine.
No comments:
Post a Comment