Apple May Have a Paparrazzi Problem
Depending on the time of month, developers and tech bloggers tend to be either upset about the supposedly overly strict rules in Apple's App Store or concerned that the company doesn't better police its own standards. The latest mini-scandal, which comes via a somewhat speculative blog post by The New York Times' Nick Bilton, that describes a "loophole" that allows the makers of photo apps to steal all of your photos—even ones not taken using that app—if you choose to tag your location. This can be especially troubling if you've taken some iPhone photos you'd rather not lose track of, or if you're a celebrity whose private photos may be worth something on the open market.
RELATED: The Government Steps in on App Privacy
This loophole points to the fact that the App Store has grown so large -- Apple itself says the number of iPhone and iPad apps available is approaching 600,000 -- that the company is unable to vet the submitted apps appropriately. If they're too tough and reject a good app, Apple gets smeared in the press. If they're too open, an app may risks violating its users privacy. If Apple want to address this, god knows the company can afford to hire more staff.
