We all like listening to our private music collection, but it turns out that Apple also likes to listen to our music. According to a blog written by Cory Doctorow, Apple"s latest version of iTunes (6.0.2) sends back information to 2o7.net about the songs iTunes users are playing. Why Apple would send such information from its customer"s to another company, rather than to itself is sure to raise questions about the safety of its customer"s personal information.
This type of spyware behavior is for Apple"s Mini-Store, present in iTunes 6.0.2. Apple"s Mini-Store is a feature that shows albums and tracks that would be of interest to users of the iTunes Music Store, based on the information being sent back to Apple with this new version of iTunes. According to since1968.com, Apple"s EULA/TOS only mentions that Apple collects contact and billing data. No where does it simply state that every time you play a song the information from that song will be sent to Apple/2o7.net.
Some users of iTunes 6.0.2 have argued that this is no big deal, maybe they are right. Still the idea that Apple can simply put in this type of spyware behavior, without first informing the user of what is going on is a bad move on Apples part. If Apple plans on to continue using its Mini-Store, Apple should make sure users are fully aware of what exactly is being sent and how to disable it. If you do not want information about your music to be sent back to Apple/2o7.net, simply select
Edit > Hide Mini-Store according to Kirkville.