How Apple uses your personal data
In our Privacy Policy Opens in a new window. we outline how and why we collect, use, disclose, transfer and store your personal information.
We also outline on a service by service basis the purposes of data collection and use. These summary privacy documents are available upon activation or sign-up for the service and subsequently within the service and/or on your device.
What are the purposes of processing your data?
- To keep you posted on Apple’s latest product announcements, software updates, and upcoming events.
- To help us create, develop, operate, deliver, and improve our products, services, content and advertising, and for loss prevention and anti-fraud purposes.
- To verify identity, assist with identification of users, and to determine appropriate services. For example, we may use date of birth to determine the age of Apple Account holders.
- To send important notices, such as communications about purchases and changes to our terms, conditions, and policies.
- For internal purposes such as auditing, data analysis, and research to improve Apple’s products, services, and customer communications.
- To administer sweepstakes, contests or similar promotions if you enter into them.
What types of personal information do we collect?
- Name, address, phone number, email address, device identifiers, IP address, location information and credit/debit card information may be collected when you interact with us in one of many ways such as create an Apple Account, apply for commercial credit, purchase a product, connect to our services, download a software update, contact us or participate in an online survey.
- In certain jurisdictions, we may ask for a government issued ID in limited circumstances including for the purpose of extending commercial credit, managing reservations, or as required by law.
Do we share your data with third parties?
- Apple may share personal information with companies who provide services such as information processing, extending credit, fulfilling customer orders, delivering products to you, managing and enhancing customer data, providing customer service, assessing your interest in our products and services, and conducting customer research or satisfaction surveys.
- It may be necessary − by law, legal process, litigation, and/or requests from public and governmental authorities within or outside your country of residence − for Apple to disclose your personal information. We may also disclose information about you if we determine that for purposes of national security, law enforcement, or other issues of public importance, disclosure is necessary or appropriate.
- We may also disclose information about you if we determine that disclosure is reasonably necessary to enforce our terms and conditions or protect our operations or users. Additionally, in the event of a reorganization, merger, or sale we may transfer any and all personal information we collect to the relevant third party.
- These recipients, which include other Apple companies and its affiliates who are in all cases obligated to protect your personal data. They may be located outside the region in which you are a resident.
How long do we retain your personal information?
We only retain personal data for the period necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined above and detailed in our service specific privacy summaries. When assessing this period we carefully examine our need to collect personal data in the first instance and if we establish such a need we then ensure that we only retain it for the shortest possible permit unless a longer retention period is required by law, such as for example retaining records of financial transactions.
How do I provide feedback or register a complaint?
If you are not satisfied with any aspect of our handling of personal information or how we have endeavored to provide you with your privacy rights as determined by applicable law, you may have depending on your jurisdiction of residence the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority. We are happy to further advise through our regional Privacy Contact Form Opens in a new window..
Is any of my personal data stored by Apple not collected directly from me?
We may have received your personal data from other persons if someone has shared their content with you using Apple products, sent gift certificates and products, or invited you to participate in Apple services or forums.
The existence of automated decision-making, including profiling:
Apple does not believe that it takes any decisions involving the use of algorithms or profiling that produces legal effects concerning you or similarly significantly affects you.