iPhone: Complete erasure of Analytics Data

sorian (Author)

Perhaps should you wish to disassociate yourself from

the Apple iPhone product; you could find this process

helpful. As it does what is expected; leaving the unit as

it was when you first bought it. Prior to initial setup use.

Sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone - Apple Support

This, is more detailed busy process; outlines other purposes:

What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

//support.apple.com/en-us/109511

8 Things You Need to Do Before You Sell, Trade In, or Give Away Your iPhone

https://www.makeuseof.com/things-to-do-before-selling-iphone/

•What to Do Before Trading in Your iPhone: Essential Steps Checklist - umatechnology.org

//umatechnology.org/what-to-do-before-trading-in-your-iphone-essential-steps-checklist/

Several of these appear to cover the same or similar steps.

By use of them, your issues and/or worries should be over.

.And Do Not Restore the iPhone again from a saved archive!

I have not seen where the EU requires logs to be deleted on device when they contain no personally identifiable information. You can always contact the EU regulators to file a complaint or get clarification. Here is a link to contact Apple directly:

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

You can prevent the analytics from being sent to Apple with it being stored on their servers and review the privacy of any information included in those logs. I am aware of the EU rules that offers protections for your data that is stored by third parties on their servers, but that is not the same issue as on device data. That data has always been able to be removed from Apple servers.

Legal - Device Analytics & Privacy- Apple

sorian wrote:

Thanks again - this is very helpful as well!

It seems to me that the main issue is the iPhone backups (same applies to iPad and Mac) which will bring back all your Analytics Data to any new or reset device. And through backups they are shared with Apple. But even if they wouldn’t be shared with Apple, you don’t have the chance to stop this endless accumulation of data about you which apps you have used and a lot more. Most people do not understand how much information is stored there about them.

Why do you think your backups are shared with Apple?

If you did not opt in to share that data with Apple and/or developers, then the only place it exists is on the device itself.

You can erase it from there by erasing the phone. Of course, new analytics files will be generated as needed, and again, if you did not opt in to share that data with anyone, it is not being shared.

Your rights are not being violated. Please educate yourself before making ridiculous accusations.

sorian wrote:

To the previous to responses: If my backup brings these data back, there actually are shared with Apple. I want to have FULL control over my data without exceptions and without me being forced to quit Apple and its services because they store data on backups which I don’t want them to do. This is violation of my rights and also a bad approach to customers btw.

Nope, they are not shared with Apple and are encrypted in your iCloud backup. I have already provided the link for you to use to prevent the analytics data to be shared with Apple. You are also free to get any data that Apple has about you for complete transparency.

Understand and control the personal information that you store with Apple - Apple Support

Ironically the EU regulations you cite for personal data protection requires Apple to maintain the key to decrypt your iCloud data. That is so your Government can access your data with a warrant or subpoena, it is not Apple that uses the key to get your information. Every other region allows Advanced Data Protection (ADP) where not even Apple maintains the key and you are in complete control of your data that prevents access from the Government.

sorian wrote:

I don’t oppose new analytics files as long as I can delete them and all the historical ones whenever I want to.

The issue is that I cannot do that and that historical and new ones are accumulating without my consent/permission.

While I appreciate Apple and its products a lot (have acquired plenty of them), I don’t want such data to accumulate and me not being in control of that.

Do you understand my point?

I think we all understand your point. We may not agree with it, but we understand it. What is the point of debating this here, when this is a user to user ONLY forum, which Apple doesn't participate, nor read for user feedback? This is an academic discussion at best, because not one person here works for Apple nor has the ability to give you what you want. So where does that leave you?

1. Accept that Analytics are part of iOS and users don't have the option to delete them?
2. Understand that Apple doesn't have access to your Analytics and you, the user don't have to share them to begin with? Your assertion Apple does have access and your rights have been violated, is simply, utterly, patently false.
3. Sell your Apple devices and buy something less intelligent?
4. Share your thoughts with Apple here --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Otherwise, there really is no point in continuing this discussion here, on a forum where no one works for Apple, nor can make any changes to this.

Hmmm… try factory resetting your device. Not sure of any other way.

sorian wrote:

I am EU citizen and I have the legal right to erase all iPhone analytics data. Appel does not provide any functioning way to erase those data completely and permanently and violates my legal rights.

I have tried all suggested ways including iPhone resetting with full erasure but after backup restore, all iPhone Analytics data are back.

How can I carry out the erasure effectively?

That's a rather bold statement that your legal rights have been violated. The diagnostics and usage data is collected by Apple to improve app performance and fix bugs, and it is stored on the iPhone to help with troubleshooting and diagnostics purposes. You also have the right to NOT share diagnostics data with Apple. Why would this be an issue to you?

sorian wrote:

Thanks a lot. I have tried factory resetting and the backup brings all analytics data back after signing in and restoring.

To the previous to responses: If my backup brings these data back, there actually are shared with Apple.

False. They are part of the backup. Your backup is not "shared" with Apple.

If you don't want them in your backups, the don't back up.

I want to have FULL control over my data without exceptions and without me being forced to quit Apple and its services because they store data on backups which I don’t want them to do. This is violation of my rights and also a bad approach to customers btw.

That is complete nonsense.

This isn't worth discussing any more.

sorian wrote:

Thanks a lot. I have tried factory resetting and the backup brings all analytics data back after signing in and restoring.

To the previous to responses: If my backup brings these data back, there actually are shared with Apple. I want to have FULL control over my data without exceptions and without me being forced to quit Apple and its services because they store data on backups which I don’t want them to do. This is violation of my rights and also a bad approach to customers btw.

You are again completely WRONG and you are making claims which are TOTALLY FALSE. The fact that analytics are contained in a backup DOES NOT mean they are shared with Apple. Your backup as is the case with ALL the data on your iPhone is completely encrypted. Apple cannot access anything in your backups. And as you've already been told, if you don't want to share analytics with Apple, DON'T SHARE THEM.

There is an old saying........."Just because you are paranoid, doesn't mean they are out to get you."

So, if Apple made a switch to turn off all analytics, but in doing so, you invalidate any existing warranty and make Apple Care, if any, null and void. So, effectively rendering your iPhone unrepairable or so expensive, as to not be economically feasible. That would satisfy you?

sorian wrote:

I don’t oppose new analytics files as long as I can delete them and all the historical ones whenever I want to.

The issue is that I cannot do that and that historical and new ones are accumulating without my consent/permission.

Old logs are automatically deleted and you do not have any control over that. There are many other things on iOS that you cannot delete.

You do not own the software on the device, it is only the device that you own and the software on it is leased to you. That is also why you do not have to pay for the software and all updates are free. You do consent to the Terms of Use and grant permissions when you choose to sign up for an Apple Account. It is not required that you have an Apple Account, although your device will be limited in features and that choice is yours. Here are the terms that you agree to for an Apple Account.

Legal - Apple Account & Privacy- Apple

For the terms and conditions for iCloud you can view those here and choose your region on the top of the page. You must accept these terms when using iCloud:

Legal - iCloud - Apple