Apple Inc. is a multinational American technology company that sells consumer electronics that critics have claimed to incorporate stolen and/or purchased designs that claim to be their own original creations. Apple Criticism includes unethical business practices such as anti-competitive behavior, rash litigation, and dubious tax tactics, their production methods involving the use of sweatshop workers, customer service issues involving misleading warranties and data security inadequate, and worries about environmental destruction. In addition, it has been criticized for alleged collaboration with the US supervisory program, PRISM.
Video Criticism of Apple Inc.
Allegations of anti-competitive behavior
Practice locking the vendor
Apple has been criticized for the use of exclusive parts and screws on their late MacBook models and iPhone products recently. In mid-2012, Apple introduced the Retina MacBook Pro screen with a sleeker and lighter design. After its release, many criticized the new MacBook Pro design that introduced a trade off that included soldered RAM to the motherboard, batteries glued to an aluminum uni-body chassis, LED screen blending with glass, and proprietary use. PCI-E solid-state drives as opposed to SATA interfaces. Many criticize these practices as a way for Apple to keep consumers away from the hardware they buy, and eliminate self-improvement from consumers. iFixit, a do-it-yourself electronic website, called Retina MacBook Pro 2012 "the most irreplaceable notebook on the market."
Apple also faces controversy for a closed ecosystem around its music store, iTunes; Therefore, Steve Jobs was ordered to attend a trial on a special antitrust violation with iPod and iTunes. Apple has not licensed the FairPlay DRM, or any previous lossless format codec, Apple Lossless (ALAC), to other companies, thus preventing content - purchased from the iTunes store, or Apple Lossless encoded in iTunes computer applications or purchased from non-iTunes sources - from which used in other manufacturer's devices. Starting April 2009, all music on the iTunes Store is DRM-free, but this does not apply to other content. The Apple Lossless Codec (ALAC) is reverse engineered and an independent encoder and decoder is released. In 2011, Apple made the original ALAC source code available under the Apache license.
iTunes
Apple is caught up in the controversy over online music sales in the EU where, as a single market, customers are free to purchase goods and services from any member country. iTunes Store encourages consumers and other music buyers to iTunes-only sites by limiting content purchases to countries where customer payment details are originally, which in turn forces users in some countries to pay higher prices. On 3 December 2004, the British Office of Fair Trading referred to the iTunes Music Store to the European Commission for violations of the EU free trade law. Apple commented that they did not believe they violated EU law, but were limited by legal restrictions on the rights granted to them by labels and music publishers. PC World commented that it appears that "the Commission's main target is not Apple but music companies and music rights agents, who work on a national basis and give Apple little choice but to offer nationwide stores" >.
Google Voice controversy
Apple has been criticized for trying to prevent iPhone users from using the Google Voice app by disabling it on the iPhone. Apple refused to approve the Google app for use on the iPhone, claiming that the app changed the functionality of the iPhone intended, that is, with Google voice installs, voice mail was no longer redirected to the native iPhone Visual Voicemail app but instead channeled through the Google app, thus "destroying" the experience iPhone users. This has caused controversy among iPhone developers and users, and the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began investigating Apple's active decision to deny users the ability to install Google Voice from Apple's online store from where users routinely download and install iPhone apps. Starting November 2010, Google Voice is available for iPhone.
Prohibition of Adobe Flash on iOS
With the release of iOS 4.0 SDK, Apple changed its terms of service to ban programs originally written in a language that Apple did not approve to use on iPhone. It was criticized for anti-competition by banning the use of Adobe Flash and other programs on the iPhone. The New York Times quoted an Adobe employee accusing the policy of anti-competition. On 3 May 2010, Ars Technica and The New York Post reported that the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) are deciding which institutions will launch an antitrust investigation into the matter.
The controversy over Apple's changes to section 3.3.1 iPhone SDK license agreement erupted after John Gruber April 8, 2010, a Daring Fireball blog post entitled, New iPhone Developer Agreement Prohibiting Use of Adobe Flash-to-iPhone. Strong opposition to Apple's license change spread quickly with bloggers and others. Others are quick to note that the language used in the agreement also prohibits other developer tools including MonoTouch, Lua, Unity, and many others.
IPhone OS original 3 part 3.3.1 reads:
- 3.3.1 Applications may only use the Published API in the manner specified by Apple and may not use or call any unpublished or personal API.
IPhone OS Revision 4 section 3.3.1 reads:
- 3.3.1 - Applications may only use the Documented API in the manner specified by Apple and may not use or call any personal API. Applications should be originally written in Objective-C, C, C, or JavaScript as executed by iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C, and Objective-C that can be compiled and directly linked to the Documented API (eg , Apps that link to the Document as documented through an intermediate translation or layer or compatibility tool are prohibited).
Steve Jobs posted a reaction titled "Thoughts on Flash", but did not directly address any third-party development tools other than the Adobe Flash platform. Post "Thoughts on Flash" immediately attracted and hard criticism with Steve Jobs accused of lying by many people.
Collusion with record label
In May 2015 it was reported that the US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission began investigating Apple for engaging in cartels with major record labels preventing them from offering free, ad-supported online music streaming to encourage users to relaunch Beats Music-based subscription services. Specifically, there are allegations that Apple has pushed the label to pull their music from the freemium level of the competing service Spotify (a service that has cut Apple's music sales revenue), and offers to pay for Universal Music Group equivalent to YouTube's license fee with a label instead of to withdraw its content of service.
App Store transaction costs
The iOS app available through the App Store that requires payment for features or membership is required to use Apple's iTunes payment system, which gives the company 30% off all transactions. This policy has been criticized for taking too much money for each transaction, with comparisons made with the typical 1-5% cut required by credit card companies and the 1-10% cuts required for some online markets.
Spotify
In July 2015, Spotify's music streaming service sends emails to its iOS subscribers, urging them to cancel their App Store subscriptions, awaiting expiration, and then signing up for paid membership via the Spotify website, bypassing 30% of App Store transaction fees and creating services more affordable. Less than a year later, Records reported that Spotify's public advisor Horacio Gutierrez had sent a letter to Apple's general counsel Bruce Sewell saying the company "caused huge losses to Spotify and its customers" for not agreeing updates to the Spotify app. Apple does not approve the new version because of "business model rules", which require Spotify to use the iTunes payment system if "wants to use apps to get new subscribers and sell subscriptions." Gutierrez strongly criticized the chain of events, writing that "This latest episode raises serious concerns under US and EU competition law... This continues a disruptive behavior pattern by Apple to exclude and reduce Spotify's competitiveness in iOS and as a rival to Apple Music, especially when viewed against the background of Apple's previous anti-competitive behavior aimed at Spotify. "He also described the App Store approval process as" a weapon to the detriment of competitors ". In a response reported by BuzzFeed News, Bruce Sewell said that "We are annoyed that you are asking for an exception to the rules we apply to all developers and openly using rumors and half-truths about our service", adding that "Our guidelines apply equally to all app developers, whether they are game developers, electronic booksellers, video streaming services or digital music distributors, and regardless of whether they compete with Apple or not." Sewell further stated that the company "does not change the behavior us or our rules "when introducing Apple Music's own streaming service, and that" nothing in Apple's behavior "to support anti-competitive claims. Zach Epstein of BGR argues that Spotify is upset that "it is not a for-profit" that has no free control over its applications built on other companies' services, and ends with a statement that "Apparently Apple can not be compensated for granting access Spotify to tens of millions of potential customers ".
In August 2016, Spotify began "punishing" artists who exclusively offered Apple Music by displaying their content less clearly on its services and offering fewer promotional opportunities. In May 2017, the Financial Times reported that Spotify, as well as several other companies, had submitted a letter to the European Union, stating that "some" operating systems, app stores, and search engines had abused "privileged positions" for changed from "gate" to "gatekeeper". A few days later, Reuters reported that the EU is preparing laws and new laws intended to deal with conflicts between large companies and small businesses, particularly in terms of "unfair trade practices". Another letter was sent in December 2017, again accusing Apple of "regularly misusing" its position, and asked the regulator to enter and "ensure 'level playing field'".
F.lux vs. application. "Night Shift" implementation
In November 2015, f.lux, a popular computer program to adjust night-time screen colors to remove blue light that can affect sleep patterns, made available for iOS devices via "sideloading"; users install Xcode, a development environment for Mac computers, and manually install apps on their iOS devices, bypassing the App Store and official release channels that do not provide the necessary permissions for f.lux to work. A day later, the developer of f.lux made the sideloading application unavailable, having been contacted by Apple with information that the procedure violated the Developer Program Agreement. In March 2016, updates for the iOS operating system enabled Apple's own "Night Shift" implementation, and the "Night Shift" feature was then extended to the macOS operating system in March 2017. After iOS availability, f.lux developers issued an official press release, Apple as "a big commitment and an important first step", despite recognizing itself as "an innovator and an original leader in this field". They also asked Apple to open access for f.lux to enter the App Store, thus supporting its mission in "continuing research in sleep and chronobiology". Following the availability of the original macOS, the f.lux developers posted on their forums in March 2017 that the macOS version is more limited in actual impact by not reducing the sufficient blue light levels. It contrasts directly with the f.lux app, which significantly reduces color.
Maps Criticism of Apple Inc.
App Store compensation conflict
In 2012, a group of Chinese writers won compensation from Apple for selling apps containing unlicensed versions of their books. They have asked for 50 million yuan ($ 7.7 million) in compensation but only $ 160,400.
John Wiley & amp; Children and iCon: Steve Jobs
In 2005, Steve Jobs, co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc. prohibits all books published by John Wiley & amp; Children from Apple retail stores in response to the publication of their unauthorized biography, iCon: Steve Jobs .
The book receives criticism for "cohesively failing and clearly revealing Jobs's opinions, linguistic redundancies, and awkward anecdotes." However, despite criticism of the writing qualities of Jeffrey S. Young and William L. Simon and attempts to highlight the "negative" characteristics of Steve Jobs as bosses and individuals, the thinking leader Dan Sumption admits that the book is a relatively entertaining view into the life of Steve Jobs.
Price reduction
Apple has been criticized for price declines after launch, especially after the original iPhone price cut $ 200 just two months after its release. This rapid price drop caused many complaints against Apple. Apple is working to fix the complaint by offering a $ 100 store credit to an initial iPhone customer who has purchased an iPhone from Apple or AT & T.
Media relations
Apple has also been criticized for its strict method of controlling product launches, deliberately sharing misinformation in an attempt to find leakers and keep the media unsure of Apple's latest developments. Therefore, Apple's method generates more sensation of product launch around it. In some cases, Apple deliberately leaked information to the public to gauge the potential feasibility of a product like the iPad. Many attributes of Apple's confidentiality to the closed nature of Steve Jobs in which "he always keep things close to the vest... and only confessed to relatively few people."
Think of a Secret suit
With regard to leaked information about new Apple products, Apple has been accused of pressuring journalists to release their sources, has filed lawsuits against unidentified people, "John Does", to find out how their product information has been leaked and has been punished by the court for doing so as an abuse of the legal discovery process. In particular, Apple is fighting a protracted battle against the Think Secret website that results in "a positive solution for both parties". No sources are disclosed.
Gizmodo Incident
In April 2010, a Gizmodo editor, Jason Chen, became the subject of legal controversy in San Mateo, California when the Secondary Rapid Rapid Computing Team of California (a multi-county task force investigating high-tech crimes in the Silicon Valley area, among whom Apple's steering committee is members) seized the computer from the editor's headquarters, as if to investigate the reverse-engineering iPhone. The Gizmodo blog published an article last week about the future of iPhone products, including product dissection, after the wrong iPhone device purchase on Chen. Gawker Media publishes a warrant on its website as an example of Apple's excessive reach and improper use of law enforcement to oversee its patents. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) also came to defend Gizmodo, citing the Privacy Protection Act of 1980 that protects journalists from the police "rummaging through sensitive information contained in journalist notes and communications" and the warrant presented too broadly, including "all records and data located and/or stored on a computer, hard drive, or storage device located in a registered location."
Labor Practices
In 2006, Mail on Sunday stated that sweatshop conditions exist in factories in China, where contract manufacturers, Foxconn and Inventec, operate factories that produce iPods. The article states that one iPod factory, for example, employs over 200,000 workers living and working in factories, and regularly conducts more than 60 hours of work per week. The article also reports that workers make about US $ 100 per month and are required to stay onsite and pay rent and food from the company. The cost of living - the requirement to keep jobs - usually requires employees to spend a little more than half their income. The article also said that workers were given buckets to wash their clothes.
Immediately after the allegation, Apple launched an investigation and worked with their manufacturer to ensure that conditions are acceptable by its standards. In 2007, Apple initiated an annual audit of the labor conditions of all its suppliers, slowly raising standards and severing ties with non-compliant suppliers - annual progress reports have also been published since 2008.
In 2010, workers in China plan to sue iPhone contractors for poisoning from cleaners used to clean LCD screens. A worker claimed that they were not informed of the possibility of occupational diseases.
A BBC investigation in 2014 found excessive hours and other problems persisted, though Apple promised to reform factory practices after Foxconn's suicide in 2010. The Pegatron plant was once again the subject of review, as journalists gained access to working conditions inside through hiring as employees. While the BBC claims that its reporters' experience shows that employee violations have continued since 2010, Apple has publicly disagreed with the BBC and stated: "We are aware that no other company is doing as much as Apple to ensure fair and safe working conditions."
In the period following this exposure, Apple continues to receive criticism over its employment rights record. Reports in 2015 and 2016 from labor rights organizations, China Labor Watch, noted that Apple Pegatron supplier salaries are too low to cover the cost of living alone, forcing workers to put in excess amounts of overtime to meet demand.
Security issues and harsh working conditions
Workers who install iPhones, iPads, and other devices often work under tough conditions, according to employees inside the Foxconn factory. According to company reports and advocacy, Apple suppliers in China have dumped hazardous waste and falsified records incorrectly.
Forty-nine young men and women were poisoned at the Lianjian Technology plant in Suzhou Industrial Park by poisonous chemical hexane, which is used to clean the iPad's display screen and speed up efficiency. To save money, the plant does not provide good ventilation during the cleaning process, and workers develop neurological problems, loss of motor function, numb limbs, and complains continue to faint and are overcome by weakened fatigue. Some of these sick workers were eventually purchased with 8,000 or 9,000 yuan ($ 1,200- $ 1,400) bump payouts, but only after signing an agreement stating that they would not file a lawsuit against Apple or its supplier company in the future.
The explosion in May 2011 at Foxconn's iPad factory in Chengdu, China, killed four people and injured 18 people. Employees work overtime - in some cases, seven days a week - and live in crowded dormitories. Some said they stood for so long that their legs swelled until they could barely walk.
Harassment of employees and child workers
The use of students and minors of Foxconn is part of the pursuit of a low-cost and flexible workforce. When the fall of the 2010 suicide left Foxconn with a labor shortage, the Henan provincial government helped with the breach. The province directs 100,000 vocational students to become staff in the Shenzhen assembly line as an "apprentice" (Chinese term shixi can also mean "trainee") after giving them a nine-day notice. Students are notified that those who fail to comply will not be allowed to graduate.
Trainees have become a significant component of the Foxconn workforce, which is as high as 15 percent of the workforce - or 180,000 internships across the company - at its peak, making it the largest "internship" program in the world. Teachers have been placed in factory complexes to monitor attendance, and some internships have been as young as 14 - by the company's own receipt - in violation of Chinese law. According to SACOM, Chan, Foxconn, and other similar manufacturers, "secretly" using apprentices to avoid detection and error. Young people are employed through the same employment agency that employs Foxconn "shipping workers", who lose their benefits and standard protection.
US-based China Labor Watch (CLW) is investigating conditions at three factories operated by Pegatron, which make equipment for Apple computers and iPhones, and found that Pegatron employs children under the age of 18 - child laborers working under conditions as bad as the adult staff. In total, 10,000 employees aged between 16 and 20 work in a crowded production room, performing the same task as adults. Some children are paid less, and others are not paid on time.
Apple's Apple-Foxconn business relationship
Apple's considerable commercial success was partly due to the outsourcing of its consumer electronics production to Asia. As a major producer of products and components for Apple, Taiwanese company Foxconn employs 1.4 million Chinese-based workers by 2013. Workers are part of China's "floating population" of 200 million migrants, under what Taiwan tech entrepreneur Stan Shih "A smiling cage." Controlling the edge of an upside-down smile - brand, design and engineering on the one hand, and marketing, sales, and external relationships on the other - is what ensures great profit margins.
Apple, Foxconn and Chinese workers are stakeholders in high-tech production, but the relationship between the three is perceived by analysts as unbalanced. Apple is able to capture 58.5 percent of the iPhone's value, despite the fact that the manufacture of the product is completely outsourced. The most notable is that labor costs in China reach the smallest portion: 1.8 percent, or nearly US $ 10, from the retail price of US $ 549. While Apple and Foxconn rely on Chinese workers to do 12 hours daily to meet demand , China's labor costs in processing and assembly are insignificant in Apple's overall commercial success. Other major component providers - such as Samsung and LG - capture slightly more than 14 percent of iPhone value, while raw material costs more than a fifth of the total value (21.9 percent).
Average wages range from $ 1 to $ 2 per hour for Foxconn workers, including overtime, and depending on location - such rates are attractive by Chinese rural standards. Foxconn workers typically complete 50 hours work week and 12 hour shift; However, the working week up to 100 hours is unheard of during peak production periods. Foxconn workers are typically incapable of buying iPads and iPhones they assemble.
In 2009 and 2010, Foxconn's factory in Foxconn City industrial park in Longhua, Shenzhen, China, was strongly criticized in the media, with one source describing the condition as "white-collar prison." In 2009, Foxconn guard was recorded with a video beating the employees.
Incidentally Foxconn employees
On July 16, 2009, Sun Danyong, a Chinese factory worker employed by Foxconn, committed suicide, after reporting that he lost a prototype model for a fourth-generation iPhone. After filing his report on July 13, Chinese media reported that his residence was ransacked by Foxconn employees, and that he was beaten and interrogated by his superiors - an illegal act under Chinese and American law. The incident raised questions about Apple's confidentiality policy and working conditions in their Chinese factories. An Apple spokeswoman told reporters the company was "saddened by the tragic loss of this young employee." Apple's relationship with Foxconn regarding corporate security has been a continuing controversy since Sun Danyong's death.
Apple's policy on how it affects the corporate culture of its suppliers is presented in the "Supplier Supplier Responsibility Report" document. Asking the supplier responsible for their mistakes and omissions in their relationship with Apple is a field of concern to Apple. In one report, Apple stated:
Our procurement decisions take into account the performance of a facility's social responsibility, along with factors such as quality, cost, and on-time delivery. When social responsibility performance consistently fails to meet Apple's expectations, we end the business.
Given Apple's stated policy at the time of death, ending relationships with such suppliers is potentially difficult without incurring substantial financial losses.
Then in April 2010, four workers committed suicide within a month at the same plant, signaling the beginning of the "suicide Foxconn" incident. In May 2010, 12 workers had committed suicide in Foxconn operations in China - although the number of suicide cases self is lower than suicide rate in China. Apple, HP, and others stated that they were investigating the situation. A total of 18 suicide attempts were recorded at the Foxconn facility in 2010, with 14 attempts resulting in death.
In response to suicide, Foxconn substantially increased wages for its factory workforce in Shenzhen, installed a suicide prevention net, brought Buddhist monks to a prayer session inside the factory, and asked employees to sign a non-suicide appointment. Workers are also forced to sign legally binding documents and ensure that they and their descendants will not sue the company as a result of unexpected death, personal injury, or suicide. After the changes are applied, it is unclear how employees who fail to comply with the terms of the new agreement will be subject to sanctions.
Tax practices
In the late 1980s Apple was the pioneer of accounting techniques, "Double Irish With a Dutch Sandwich," which reduced taxes by directing profits through Irish and Dutch subsidiaries and then to the Caribbean. In 2004, Ireland, a country of less than 5 million, is home to more than a third of Apple's revenues worldwide, according to company filings. Robert Promm, Apple's controller in the mid-1990s, called the strategy "the worst secret kept in Europe". Such a strategy helped Apple retain its international tax by 3.2 percent of its overseas earnings last year, to 2.2 percent in 2010, and in a single digit over the past half-decade, according to a company filing.
According to a Senate report on the company's offshore tax structure ending in May 2013, Apple has held billions of dollars in profits in Irish subsidiaries to pay little or no tax to any government using an unusual global tax structure. The main subsidiary, the parent company that includes Apple retail stores across Europe, has not paid any corporate income tax in the last five years. "Apple has exploited the difference between Irish and US tax rules," the report said.
Among the findings in the report are:
- Almost all of Apple's overseas operations are run through an Irish company without employees.
- Apple pays 2% - or less - in corporate income tax in Ireland. (Irish corporate tax rate is 12.5c/o).
- Apple Operations International, which provides 30% of Apple's worldwide net profit from 2009 to 2011, does not pay taxes anywhere.
- US Apple's profits continue to end in Ireland as well.
- Most of the $ 102 billion Apple stores "overseas" in US banks.
- The miracle of "check-the-box" makes the whole company disappear.
- Apple seems terrible in estimating its own taxes.
On May 21, 2013, Apple CEO Tim Cook defended his company's tax tactics at the Senate hearing.
As part of the Luxembourg Leak, Apple has revealed to use Luxembourg's tax haven to avoid taxes.
On August 30, 2016, after a three-year investigation, EU competition commissioners concluded that Apple had received "illegal state aid" from Ireland. The Commission ordered Apple to pay 13 billion euros ($ 14.5 billion), plus interest, in unpaid taxes. The Irish government "unanimously" agrees to appeal the verdict, claiming that there is no departure from the applicable Irish tax laws and that the Commission's actions are a disruption to Irish sovereignty (since national taxation policies are excluded from Union treaties). Apple also announced that it would appeal the Commission's findings.
On November 5, 2017, Paradise Papers, a set of secret electronic documents relating to foreign investment, reveals that Apple is one company that "avoids billions of dollars in taxes" using foreign companies. In 2014, Appleby, a provider of offshore legal services called in the paper, works with Apple in a function similar to a general contractor to provide offshore offshore off the island of Jersey in collaboration with law firm Baker McKenzie.
Many tangible properties appeared in Ireland around the time of the internal reorganization of Apple's three Irish subsidiaries. Gross domestic product of 2015 showed a 26% increase, and nearly $ 270 billion of intangible assets suddenly appeared in Ireland when the year began - more than the entire value of all residential properties in Ireland. It is believed to show that Apple has taken advantage of a tax incentive known as a capital allowance, which gives Irish companies a generous tax cut to buy intangible property. After a US Senate investigation featuring testimonials by Tim Cook, Ireland announced that for the next Irish company will be required to declare tax haven in the world. Several US multinationals, including Apple subsidiaries, have taken the position that they do not owe tax anywhere in the world. Apple law firm Baker McKenzie, researching tax haven havens, asks Appleby officials in various jurisdictions to ensure "that Irish companies can engage in management activities... without being taxed in your jurisdiction." Two subsidiaries moved to Jersey. Apple sued for $ 14.5 billion in taxes, following findings by European regulators that Ireland illegally provided state aid when it approved Apple's tax structure. Irish companies are required to pay taxes in Ireland, but if they convince the authorities that they are "managed and controlled" from abroad, the company can win exceptions. Apple now holds $ 252 billion offshore.
On Saturday, December 2nd, 2017, activists who shout "pay your taxes" publicly protest at Apple stores in Paris and elsewhere in France. On January 17, 2018, Apple announced that it would take advantage of the new US tax law and repatriate offshore profits, and pay $ 38 billion in deferred taxes.
Quality control and customer service issues
The Danish Consumer Complaints Board reported an error with Apple's iBook product line and criticized Apple's response to the issue, pointing out Apple's customer support issue. In this case, a solder connection between two components cracked after a certain number of computers restarted causing the computer to malfunction, with most of the incidents occurring outside of Apple's warranty period. Websites such as AppleDefects.com were created in response to detailed quality control issues and issues with Apple's product portfolio.
Apple has been repeatedly criticized for its unwillingness to respect the guarantee and the accompanying passion for giving any reason to do so, no matter how strange: in 2008, Apple's repair center began refusing to honor guarantees for its products that have been used in hazardous environments, , which is used around someone who smokes; and in 2009, Apple refused to honor the warranty and replace the damaged batteries on machines that have little unrelated cosmetic damage that does not affect the functioning of the machine, or the battery.
Data security
Although there are a small number of known viruses and malware designed for Apple products, McAfee's 2006 report found a 228 percent increase in annual vulnerability rates in the 2003-5 period, compared to Microsoft products, which only saw 73 percent. In addition, every year since then a large number of vulnerabilities have been discovered and fixed through security updates. However, the lack of public awareness about Apple's product security vulnerabilities has led to criticisms of Apple for misleading the public that has been increasing over the years. This criticism has also drawn attention to Apple's failure to update its products with timely security updates. An example of this is a security hole in Sun Microsystems's Java, which Sun fixed soon, while Apple needed more than five months to distribute the fix. That's much longer than any other company, and draws sharp criticism from experts and journalists. The latest example is a malware product called MacDefender, MacProtector, MacSecurity, or MacGuard, which is an application that can be installed in OS X by the user; ZDNet's Microsoft Blogger Ed Bott estimates that it has been installed by 60,000 to 120,000 Mac customers who think it is a legitimate anti-virus software.
Overall, experts admit that Apple products are less likely to be violated by hackers or infected by viruses/malware, although they stress that this is mainly due to a lack of interest by hackers in attacking Apple products. In particular they fear that Apple puts its clients in jeopardy by not taking action to inform the public about its security vulnerabilities. Like David Harley, a security expert from the ESET anti-virus vendor said, "Any computer user who believes the system is so secure that they do not have to care about security is the main ingredient for exploitation by social engineering."
According to Secunia's vulnerability ratings, Apple has led Microsoft in a reported security vulnerability since 2007, and currently leads all other vendors in reported vulnerabilities for 2010. However, this rating does not "indicate true security (or lack thereof) in product vendor differences, but rather show that vulnerabilities continue to be found in significant quantities in products even from the largest and most popular vendors including those who spend significant resources to improve the security of their products, "according to study authors.
In August 2014, it was published that hackers have found an exploit involving Find My iPhone service, allowing them to brute-force the Apple ID of the user and access their iCloud data. The exploits were then believed to have been used as part of a leak in August 2014 of a large number of personal photos of most naked celebrities who have been synced into their iCloud storage. Apple has since denied that the iCloud service itself or the alleged exploit is responsible for leaks, insists that the leak is the result of a "highly targeted" brute force attack from iCloud account information.
Misleading warranty claims
Italy
On December 27, 2011, Apple was fined a total of EUR900,000 (approximately $ 1.2m) by the Italian Antitrust Authority for failing to provide customers with correct information about their legal rights for a two year warranty service under the Italian Consumer Code. According to Italian agencies, Apple only reveals its standard one-year warranty and offers to sell AppleCare customers for an extra year instead of complying with the law. The agency fined Apple EUR400,000 for failing to disclose a legally mandated two-year warranty and EUR500,000 for selling overlapping AppleCare coverage.
China
On March 15, 2013, China Central Television aired the program for World Consumer Rights Day. This program criticizes issues related to Apple's warranty issues in China. The report says, the iPhone always gets a long back cover when it is being repaired in China. It also states that the warranty period for a changed product is only 90 days and the warranty period for Macintosh and iPad does not comply with Chinese law to obtain warranty in China.
On April 1, 2013, Apple CEO Tim Cook apologized to Chinese consumers for China's warranty policy and changed the policy.
Court vaccination process
In November 2008, Apple sent a stop letter and stopped to BluWiki, a non-commercial wiki provider, accusing the violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Apple claims that discussions on how to get other hardware and software to operate with the latest iPod infringe their copyrights. On April 27, 2009, Odioworks (operator of BluWiki), backed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, sued Apple at OdioWorks v. Apple, searching for non-infringement and non-circumvention declarations (official response that Apple's intellectual property rights are not infringed upon). On July 8, 2009, Apple ceased claiming infringement, stating that Apple withdrew its takedown notice, and that "Apple no longer has, nor will it be in the future, any objection to the publication of itunesDB's page that is the subject of the OdioWorks Complaint." EFF noted , "While we are pleased that Apple withdrew its unfounded legal threat, we are disappointed that it only happens after 7 months of censorship and lawsuits."
Google has accused Apple (along with Oracle, Microsoft, and others) of trying to bring down Android through patent litigation, rather than innovating and competing with better products and services. This is related to Apple's recent patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung, which in July 2012 included more than 50 lawsuits around the world, with billions of dollars in damage claimed among them. Named as a third party in the lawsuit, Google claims that this is another tactic by Apple to beat Android, citing Apple asking the judge to force Google to submit documents containing the Android source code. name tag
src: si.wsj.net
Environmental destruction claims
In 2006, Apple announced it would end shipments to Europe for certain products, including desktop eMac computers and AirPort wireless access points, as incompatible with EU Regulations on Harmful Age Restrictions (ROHS).
In 2007, Apple's Board of Directors recommended shareholders vote against proposals to adopt stronger environmental policies, such as eliminating persistent and bioaccumulative toxic chemicals, assessing the toxic chemical-out phases such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated retardants (BFRs) , and adopt stronger "retake" and recycling programs.
On April 21, 2011, Greenpeace released a report highlighting the fact that data centers spend up to 2% of all global electricity and this number is projected to increase. Phil Radford of Greenpeace said "we are concerned that this new explosion in electricity usage can lock us into an old, polluting energy source rather than the clean energy available today." On April 17, 2012, after Greenpeace protests against Apple, Apple Inc. released a statement to end coal use and switch to 100% clean energy. In 2013 Apple announced that it uses 100% renewable energy to strengthen their data centers, and overall 75% of its power comes from renewable sources.
In 2011, the Institute of Environment and Environment (IPE) of the Beijing Environmental Institute excluded Apple for criticism, accusing Chinese suppliers of companies of dumping contaminated wastes and toxic metals to nearby communities and threatening public health.
In June 2012, Apple withdrew its product line from the global registry for a greener electronics program, Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), reporting that channels are no longer eligible for EPEAT ratings for green certification; The San Francisco Department of the Environment then notified his agency that Apple computers were no longer eligible for city purchases. The product line has been added again.
Apple's environmental progress timeline recorded
Apple provides a section of their website, titled "Apple and the Environment," which includes their development timeline. According to their website, Apple started its timeline in 1990, even though the Apple company was founded in 1976.
In 1990, Apple officially released and implemented its environmental policy, while in 1991, out-stage lead in the battery began. In 1992, Apple officially became a founding member of the US ENERGY STAR EPA program, which was developed to identify and promote energy efficient computers and monitors. During this time, there is also an exit phase of chlorofuorocarbons (CFC) in Apple manufacturing, which is a substance that depletes the ozone layer. In 1994, there was also a phase-out of nickel-cadmium batteries, while in 1995, PVC in packaging materials was also removed. Apple's first manufacturing site in Sacramento, California became ISO 14001 certified.
ISO 14001: 2004 sets criteria for environmental management systems, mapping out frameworks that companies or organizations can use. If a person chooses to use ISO 14001: 2004, he can provide assurance to the management of the company and its employees and external stakeholders that the environmental impact is being measured and improved. The benefits of using ISO 14001: 2004 are reducing waste management costs, saving energy and material consumption, lowering distribution costs, and improving corporate image among regulators, customers, and the public.
Although this is a big step for Apple, their concern for the welfare of the environment continues to grow. In 1997, Apple's first product was tested for conformity with the TCO (Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees) standard. The TCO standard involves requirements covering a wide range of issues: environment, ergonomics, usability, electric and magnetic field emissions, and energy consumption and electrical fire safety. For example, environmental demands limit the use of heavy metals, chlorinated solvents, and various other things. In particular, labeled products must meet the demands of this environment. Two years after Apple agreed to meet TCO standards, in 1999, Apple introduced the "Apple Product Environmental Specifications (APES) file," in which lead and cadmium cables are limited. Shortly after, in 2000, all of Apple's manufacturing sites became ISO 14001 certified worldwide. It is accredited that Apple has a structured environmental management system (EMS) to manage the environmental impact of their operations. In 2001, Apple computers and displays first complied with ENERGY STAR requirements, where they voluntarily removed tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in all their plastic enclosure parts larger than 25 grams. They also began purchasing 100 percent of the electricity for the Austin facility from renewable sources, called the Austin "Green Choice" Power Program.
In 2002, Apple continued to build more environmentally friendly endeavors. For example, Apple signed the EU Code of Ethics on Power Supplies, which encouraged manufacturers to design power supplies that minimize energy consumption in "off" mode. In 2004, any discontinuation of substance substances included in the European Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Regulations was initiated. Importantly noted, Apple's Code of Conduct was implemented in 2005, and in 2006, Apple was the first computer manufacturer to replace CRT screens with energy efficient and energy-efficient LCDs.
In 2008, Apple introduced the unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro, made with recyclable aluminum and glass cover with arsenic-free display and mercury. It is also made with PVC-free internal components. MacBook Air was the first Mac to use a mercury-free backlight technology with arsenic-free LCD screens. At the same time, iPhone 3G is delivered with PVC-free handsets, headphones and PVC cables; BFR free printed circuit boards; and mercury-free display and arsenic. Apple achieved a recycling rate of 41.9%. In 2009, Apple disclosed a complete life cycle analysis of greenhouse gas emissions, which sets new standards of full environmental disclosure. Apple is the only industrial company that publishes an environmental footprint of each of its products. Other companies report only a small portion of their emissions. All of their products become BFR-free with delivery, and mercury-free LED-backlit displays with arsenic-free display glass. Mac mini, iMac, and Mac Pro meet the ENERGY STAR 5.0 specification.
In 2010, all the views offered by Apple became mercury-free and mercury-free arsenic display. Apple introduced Apple chargers for rechargeable batteries, which reduced battery waste by 78% and a carbon footprint by 63% over a four-year period. In addition, Apple introduced the Mac mini, which is the world's most energy-efficient desktop computer, as it can operate on 10 watts of electricity (which is less power than one energy-saving CFL bulb). At this time, Apple also began building facilities in Cork, Ireland; Austin, Texas; and Sacramento, California, and converted using 100% renewable energy.
In 2011, Apple introduced iTunes cards that use 100% recycled paper, and they also introduced the Mac App Store in 123 countries. Delivering digital downloads reduces the environmental impact of software delivery by removing packaging and transportation. Apple also eliminates restore DVDs that were previously included in the packaging of Mac products.
Finally, in 2012, Apple launched its redesigned iMac, using 68% less material and producing 67% less carbon emissions than previous generations. Also, the aluminum holder on the iMac is made using 30% recycled content. Meanwhile, at their headquarters in Cupertino, energy use is cut by more than 30%, and Apple provides biogas fuel cells and builds solar photovoltaic systems on the roof. They introduced a redesigned AirPort Express with a bio-based polymer enclosures derived from post-consumer ABS recycled PC-ABS and post-consumer PC-ABS recycled plastic.
Greenpeace criticism of Apple
Greenpeace criticized Apple for having products that are deemed unfriendly to the environment. In 2007, Greenpeace wrote an article describing the harmful substances found on the iPhone, such as plastic (PVC) with phthalates, along with brominated compounds. Not only that, but Greenpeace also mentions in a different article from 2004 that Apple has refused to take steps to eliminate toxic chemicals in all of their products. They argue that Sony is removing toxins from their TV, and that Samsung, Nokia, and Puma have also announced to remove toxic chemicals in all of their products, but Apple does not play their part on the issue.
Due to Greenpeace concerns, they published a ranking guide in 2006 to improve policies and practices related to the "greening" process. Greenpeace reached out to Apple fans and consumers in an effort to get the attention of Steve Jobs in September 2006. To do this, they launched the "Green my Apple" website designed to look like Apple's site. The title on the site is, "I love my Mac, I just hope it turns green." They call this the "Green my Apple" campaign. In the end, their campaign was successful. Steve Jobs talked about the company's desire to be greener in 2007.
Much later, in November 2012, Greenpeace created a company ranking in its development towards environmentally friendly products and waste management. Apple climbed to number six (out of sixteen), just behind Dell. Number one is WIPRO, and number sixteen is RIM. Apple scored six due to lack of transparency in greenhouse gas emissions reporting, clean energy advocacy, more information on toxic chemicals management, and details on the use of post-consumer recycled plastic. Although Apple lost points on Greenpeace's e-waste criteria, Apple surpassed 70% of global recycling destinations in 2010. Greenpeace believes that companies can increase their scores by setting ambitious goals to increase renewable energy usage by 2020. Apple also does not plan to eliminate antimony or beryllium in their products, but overall, a good score on product criteria. For example, the Macbook Pro has been known to be easily recycled.
Apple has made progress since 2006 on environmentally friendly tactics and products. Currently in 2013, Apple states that they achieve to empower any Apple facility with energy from renewable sources. They have achieved this goal at facilities in Austin, Cork, Munich, and on the Infinite Loop campus in Cupertino. Currently, Apple company facilities worldwide reach 75% renewable energy.
Collaboration with National Security Agency
Leaked National Security Agency documents obtained by The Guardian and The Washington Post in June 2013 include Apple in the list of US companies allegedly cooperating with PRISM, authorizing the government for secretly. access non-American citizens' data held by American companies without warrant. After the leak, government officials acknowledged the existence of the program. According to leaked documents, the NSA has direct access to the servers of those companies, and the amount of data collected through the program has grown tremendously in the years before the leak. Apple denied having any knowledge of the program.
Non-conformity planned
Apple is often accused of obsolescence - the idea that they are deliberately making devices so that they look obsolete before this happens, usually with the intent of selling the 'new and better' version. A class action suit alleging the planned obsolescence in the iOS 9 update was filed in New York state in December 2015. The online petition made by the SumOfUs consumer group in July 2016 accused Apple of "sabotaging" devices with software enhancements designed to slow down old model. Another SumOfUs petition that reached more than 300,000 signers in September 2016 also accused Apple of its planned obsolescence by removing the standard headphone jack on iPhone 7.
According to cyber forensics expert Simon Smith there is "definitely" planned obsolescence in iPhone software - such as the rules imposed on iOS 9 that prevent apps on older phones accessing external websites - vital functions.
Apple says that the reason older phones run slower (one of the criticized changes) is because the battery runs out from time to time and may die suddenly if too much energy is needed at once.
See also
- The field of reality distortion
Note
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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