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Data & Privacy Apple

Apple admits storing users' personal data in China despite privacy concerns

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By Cameron Clarke | Editor

August 16, 2014 | 2 min read

Apple has confirmed that it has started to store the personal data of its Chinese users on servers in mainland China, a move that is at odds with its Silicon Valley counterparts.

Rivals such as Google have avoided holding personal data in China due to privacy and censorship concerns.

But according to Reuters, Apple said the decision was intended to improve the speed and reliability of its iCloud service. The data will be held on servers by China Telecom Corp, the country's third-largest wireless carrier.

"Apple takes user security and privacy very seriously," it said in a statement.

"We have added China Telecom to our list of data center providers to increase bandwidth and improve performance for our customers in mainland china. All data stored with our providers is encrypted. China Telecom does not have access to the content."

To allay privacy fears, Apple said it had devised encryption systems that even Apple itself cannot unlock.

But Jeremy Goldkorn, director of Danwei.com, told Reuters: "If [Apple] making out that the data is protected and secure that's a little disingenuous because if they want to operate a business here, that'd have to comply with demands from the authorities."

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