Apple Faces Limited Legal Claims Over Data Collection Through Device Analytics

A federal judge has scaled back a lawsuit accusing Apple of breaching the privacy of iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users by gathering their personal data via apps like the App Store, Apple Music, and Apple TV.

In San Jose, California, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila dismissed most claims tied to the “Allow Apps to Request to Track” feature on Apple devices. However, he allowed some claims concerning the “Share [Device] Analytics” setting to proceed.

The lawsuit alleges that Apple violated user agreements and various privacy and consumer protection laws by assuring users that disabling certain settings would limit data collection—only to disregard those preferences and continue gathering data.

This case, which seeks unspecified damages, is one of many accusing tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Facebook of unauthorized data collection.

In his 39-page ruling, Davila noted that Apple clearly stated the “Allow Apps to Request to Track” setting only applied to third-party apps and websites, making it unreasonable for users to believe it would prevent Apple from collecting data via its own apps.

However, the judge agreed that users might have reasonably expected that disabling the “Share [Device] Analytics” setting would stop Apple from collecting their data, referencing Apple’s statement that users could “disable the sharing of Device Analytics altogether.”

Apple has maintained that it collects data through this setting to improve its products and services.

Neither Apple’s lawyers nor the plaintiffs’ attorneys have responded to requests for comment. The case is titled In re Apple Data Privacy Litigation in the Northern District of California, No. 22-07069.

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