In a new TV ad out today, Apple features people inappropriately blurting out private information in public places.
Why it matters: With this bit of satire, Apple aims to win over consumers with a privacy-first message — and also to paint itself as a force for good amid the public debate over Big Tech's power.
Details: The minute-long spot features a variety of scenes, including:
- A man on a bus shouting that he has been browsing for a divorce attorney.
- A woman at a movie telling the person next to her the e-mail address she uses to "login for everything."
- A man jogging and loudly sharing his heart rate aloud as he goes.
- A woman with a bullhorn announcing her credit card number.
The screen then reads: "Some things shouldn't be shared. iPhone keeps it that way."
Between the lines: Apple's message may be humorous, but it is not subtle.
- The company wants to distinguish between its business model, in which consumers pay for hardware and services, from its rivals', which uses personal data to target ads.
- Apple's case to customers is: You don't have to choose between technology and privacy.
Yes, but: Privacy still comes at a price. Apple makes billions from its high-end hardware and billions more from its growing array of paid services. It also gets billions from ad-supported Google to be the default search engine on Macs and iOS devices. You can see the ad here.