> But if I had to choose between Google and Apple for my privacy I would go with Apple (without much illusions).
See - I'm right there with you about not having much dog in this fight (I don't buy Apple hardware, and I mostly left google about 3 years ago) but I come out on the other side of the coin.
I'd much rather own a device made by folks I know I can't trust. Google is worse, but mostly honest about being worse.
Apple is a snake in the grass, though. I don't know what the fuck they're trying to do, but they sure have a good marketing team. To me, that's unpredictable and scary, even if the current state of their ecosystem is marginally more private.
I can sort of understand your poisiton if I squint hard enough... but what you're saying is that if apple came out as fully Anti-privacy and invasive like Google then you would be more okay with them than you are now.
Apple is way more pro lock-in and pro control than Google is, and that problem is unfixable. Google harvesting data if you don't fiddle with settings or install different android versions isn't a problem for technical users which I assume we are talking about here. Pretty much everything evil Google does is well documented and fixable, except data harvested from website visits but you'd have that issue with iphones as well. So then why would Apple devices be better? I see no reason at all to go with them except if you prefer living under a tech monopoly.
I mean - think of it like a coworker who doesn't like you.
It's much easier to work with someone (in my opinion) if you both agree you don't get along well and plan accordingly.
Having a co-worker that's sunshine and rainbows to your face, but scanning your phone for CSAM behind your back while talking shit about you to your manager is a lot harder.
it is easier to mitigate a technical problem that is up-front and already confrontational, than one which actively tries to mask the problem even exists by using language other than code
See - I'm right there with you about not having much dog in this fight (I don't buy Apple hardware, and I mostly left google about 3 years ago) but I come out on the other side of the coin.
I'd much rather own a device made by folks I know I can't trust. Google is worse, but mostly honest about being worse.
Apple is a snake in the grass, though. I don't know what the fuck they're trying to do, but they sure have a good marketing team. To me, that's unpredictable and scary, even if the current state of their ecosystem is marginally more private.