Best Skype alternatives for video and voice calls

If you're frustrated with Skype, check out this list of potential replacements for your phone.

Video and audio calls were revolutionized when Skype (iOS and Android) came to the fore in the mid-2000s, making it easier -- and cheaper -- for people across the world to communicate and see each other. The video conferencing giant has done its best to keep up with the times and its competitors, but peaked in 2014 after securing about 40 percent of the International call market.

The company was one of the first to offer Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services. And its low-cost model made it popular for computer users but it struggled to transition to a more smartphone-based market that prioritized mobile capabilities over anything else. And privacy has become a major concern for many mobile users, and other platforms have been able to gain the upper hand by encrypting all communication and providing other more potent security features.

Positioning itself as an internet calling service through computers after Microsoft's 2011 acquisition of the company, it eventually moved toward targeting businesses and corporations instead of consumers. Despite a redesign released last year, Skype has been unable to re-secure the hold it had on the industry and has ceded ground to companies that are better tuned in to the needs of modern app users.

Although Skype is still popular across the world, a number of apps have emerged from the fray and now dominate the chat and video call sphere. Here are the best alternatives to Skype.

1. WhatsApp

Image: WhatsApp

Of the most prominent alternatives to Skype, WhatsApp (iOS and Android and WhatsApp or PC) is one of the most popular, expanding rapidly across the globe primarily for its encrypted texting service. It now serves 30 billion text, voice, and video messages per day and continue to make additions, including the ability to send files within chats. The smartphone app, which is available on almost every platform except Linux, recently integrated a video calling feature to keep it up to speed with its competitors.

Some of the downsides to WhatsApp are the inability to call non-WhatsApp users and a lack of robust group calling options. Only 10 people are allowed into one chat, and you are limited in the number of messages you can send to non-WhatsApp users.

The messaging service was bought by Facebook in 2014 and now services nearly 1.5 billion users in India, Europe, Brazil, and dozens of other countries. The ease of use and phone number-linked accounts have made it a hit in app stores, and the addition as well as expansion of video offerings make it a worthy choice for those seeking Skype alternatives.

2. Signal

Image: Signal

Signal (iOS and Android) quickly became the darling of security experts thanks in no small part to its use of the Signal Protocol, a security feature now used by their rivals WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, and Google Allo to provide end-to-end encryption.

Signal is the brainchild of security researcher Moxie Marlinspike and roboticist Stuart Anderson, who combined the RedPhone encrypted voice calling app and the TextSecure encrypted texting program in 2014. The service allows users to make video and voice calls on both iOS and Android, and was one of the first to give users encrypted voice calls for free.

Everything on the Signal app is done over Wi-Fi or data connection and it also has a desktop app. Another plus, it allows users to set time limits on messages that will erase them from both the sender's and the receiver's devices.

Run by Open Whisper Systems, Signal is now a favorite of both former NSA employee Edward Snowden and the US Government. The app was approved for use by Senators and their staff members by the US Senate Sergeant of Arms. The Democratic National Committee began using the app during the 2016 election cycle after its very public email leak.

Signal has been criticized for many of the same things WhatsApp has had to deal with, namely the use of a phone number to sign up for the service. Despite all of the app's security bonafides, experts have pointed to this as one potential flaw that can be exploited by those looking to break into systems.

3. Viber

Image: Viber

The free messaging app was created in 2010 and now boasts of more than 800 million users. Viber (iOS and Android) is available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phones, giving users access to messaging, video, and file exchanging capabilities on top of the ability to make calls to landlines for a small fee.

The app is also available for desktops and has a well-regarded group calling feature in addition to end-to-end encryption. The app features a number of offerings, including a long list of games that can be played between contacts and an overflowing library of stickers and emojis.

Using Viber, you can send documents, video and audio messages as well as images and gifs. You can also create or join chat rooms tapped in to your favorite bands or businesses.

4. Google Hangouts

Image: Google

Google's Hangout video chat app (iOS and Android) is just as good as the rest, giving users a service integrated into Gmail and other Alphabet apps that are already heavily intertwined in people's lives. It is available as an app, for iOS and Android, or as a web application accessible through any Google website.

The app is a 2013 amalgamation of three former Google projects: Google Talk, Google Plus Messenger and the Hangouts feature of Google plus. The combined service offers users chats with up to 100 people, video calls with up to 25 participants. Users can do text, voice or video chats, send documents, text messages, gifs and more using the app.

Google Hangout has been hailed as one of the more reliable video call services and is used widely among businesses for conferences. The ability to share screens with a caller is also crucial for many companies.

The app has been criticized for it's chat feature, which opens new dialog boxes for every chat and can become cumbersome for your screen. But its integration with Gmail makes it a crucial addition to their suite of offerings, and its above-standard video calls make it the cream of the crop.

5. FaceTime

Image: Apple

Originally attached to the release of the iPhone 4 in 2010, FaceTime (iOS) and its audio-only component are Apple's main video-messaging platform, allowing users to video chat or call other iOS users easily.

Previously, only allow two people to call one another at a time, but in June Apple announced that up to 32 people would be able to take part in a group call. The service is end-to-end encrypted and Apple doesn't record any of the calls, making it a secure option for any Apple users.

The downsides to the service are fairly obvious: it is only available for Apple users with devices containing front-facing cameras.

6. Facebook Messenger

Image: Facebook

Facebook's Messenger app (iOS and Android) is used widely due to its obvious association with the massive social media platform and the simple interface. Users of the app, which is available for iOS and Android, will be able to send text and voice messages on top of a video chat feature.

After splitting from the main Facebook app in 2014, Messenger is now used by over 1.2 billion people to send images, videos, emojis and much more on a daily basis. The app has been criticized because there is no way to "turn it off" or log out, and with recent news about Facebook's lackluster security and questionable business practices, some have wondered whether chats have been compromised throughout the company's myriad scandals over the last few years.

That being said, its proximity to Facebook makes it ideal for those trying to connect with people who also have accounts on the social media site. While the video calls can be lackluster and the voice calls can sometimes drop out, the easy sign up and hassle free use make it a lower tier option for those looking for simple, close-to-home chat options.

7. Appear.In

(Credit: Appear.In)

Appear.In (iOS and Android) is lesser known than some of the flashier names on the list, but its functionality and easy interface make it a necessary addition to the list. Created in 2013, the app quickly became popular because you don't need to sign up for anything or download any software. All you do is go to the site and share the video link with the person you'd like to connect with.

You can hold video and voice calls with up to 8 people and the app features a variety of security measures to keep users safe. You can bump it up to 12 people if you're willing to pay $12 per month for their services. There is an app for iOS and Android in addition to a web offering. It features Snapchat-like filters and backgrounds in addition to high-quality video and sound.

*this article was featured on Download.com on October 9, 2018: https://download.cnet.com/blog/download-blog/best-skype-alternatives-for-video-and-voice-calls/

Apple double downs on privacy by requiring all third-party apps to publish data policies

Any user will now be able to quickly find and read an app's privacy policy, which Apple says must include information on how data is retained.

Concerns about privacy continue to dominate discussions around technology and its effect on everyday life. Just this week, Intel released the results of a survey that found that average consumers are just as excited as they are scared of what the future holds for how humans interact with the latest technological advances.

Apple -- in a move many believe stems from the EU's new, stringent GDPR law that came into effect earlier this year -- will now require that all apps in its App Store create a specific landing page for their privacy policy so users can easily access it. The rules come into effect on October 3.

The company has always required this for apps that need subscriptions. But now, every app that wants a spot in the app store will have to add code to their platforms to facilitate the changes Apple wants.

"All apps must include a link to their privacy policy in the App Store Connect metadata field and within the app in an easily accessible manner," they wrote in the announcement. Their statement goes on to say that every app privacy policy must identify "what data, if any, the app/service collects, how it collects that data, and all uses of that data."

They are also now required to take responsibility for the actions of any third-party functions that are built into the apps and certify that they too are following the app's privacy policy.

Data retention was a particular focus of the announcement as many of the country's biggest app platforms continue to grapple with the adoption of the EU's thorough GDPR and the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which continues to roil Facebook and worry users who question whether Facebook's admittedly abusive data collection practices have truly stopped.

Apple says all apps have to "confirm that any third party with whom an app shares user data (in compliance with these Guidelines) -- such as analytics tools, advertising networks and third party SDKs, as well as any parent, subsidiary or other related entities that will have access to user data -- will provide the same or equal protection of user data as stated in the app's privacy policy and required by these Guidelines."

Apple's new rules demand that apps allow users to revoke their consent and provide options for people to have any information of theirs deleted.

Any apps lacking a privacy policy page or access to information deletion features will not be deleted from the App Store by Apple, but any updates from October 3 on must have it.

The move was announced in the News section of Apple's App Store Connect platform.

*this article was featured on Download.com on August 31, 2018: https://download.cnet.com/blog/download-blog/apple-double-downs-on-privacy-by-requiring-all-third-party-apps-to-publish-data-policies/

Facebook is creating a personal timer to curb your social app addiction →

The social media giant may show you just how much time you spend using its service.

Eagle-eyed engineer Jane Manchun Wong found code buried within Facebook's Android app showing the social media giant has created an as-yet-unreleased feature called "Your Time on Facebook," which displays how much time you've spent on the social media site.

The "Time Well Spent" movement, which was started in earnest around 2013 and has gained steam in recent years thanks to the Center for Human Technology, has sought to force tech companies to rethink how they design their apps in an effort to address user complaints and surveys that found social media users increasingly distressed about how much time they spent on social media.

The main culprit users and other tech companies point to is Facebook. Other companies are creating features on both iOS and Android that allow you to check your app usage and time spent, with Apple even mentioning Facebook specifically at its recent developer conference in reference to apps you may want to limit your time on.

The potential Facebook feature, called "Your Time On Facebook," was confirmed by Facebook to TechCrunch. "We're always working on new ways to help make sure people's time on Facebook is time well spent," Facebook told Josh Constine.

According to Manchun Wong -- a computer-science student at the University of Massachusetts -- the unreleased feature will allow you to see just how much time you have spent on Facebook per day and give you the option of setting daily or weekly time limits. She also discovered earlier this month that Facebook was planning something similar for Instagram called "Manage your time."

Limiting screen time

Apple made smartphone app usage an integral part of its keynote presentation at WWDC this year, highlighting the Screen Time feature in iOS 12 that will give users information on app usage and allow you to set time limits for every app. Google is doing similar things with the upcoming Android P update, with an even bigger focus on general phone usage, even creating a feature that would allow users to set a time when your phone automatically goes into "Do Not Disturb" mode.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has leaned into the idea of reducing time on the social media site, with all the criticism aimed squarely at his company.

"Time spent is not a goal by itself. We want the time people spend on Facebook to encourage meaningful social interactions," he said in November.

But Joe Edelman, who has been working with the Time Well Spent nonprofit organization, disagreed with Zuckerberg's assessment of the issue, writing in a Medium blog post this year that the Facebook CEO's desire to get back to "personal moments that lead us to connect more with each other" was shortsighted and did not address the core issues plaguing the site's users.

"If the simplified actions and relationships weren't designed with a users' particular values in mind, then using the software can make living by their values more difficult, which leaves them feeling like their time was not well spent," Edelman wrote.

"Designed to addict us"

"As users, we end up acting and socializing in ways we don't believe in, and later regret. We act against our values: by procrastinating from work, by avoiding our feelings, by pandering to other people's opinions, by participating in a hateful mob reacting to the news, and so on."

The Center for Human Technology says that while the amount of time spent is a concern, it's how that time is being spent that underpins the negative feelings people may have after using these websites.

"Snapchat turns conversations into streaks, redefining how our children measure friendship. Instagram glorifies the picture-perfect life, eroding our self worth. Facebook segregates us into echo chambers, fragmenting our communities. YouTube autoplays the next video within seconds, even if it eats into our sleep," the center wrote.

"These are not neutral products. They are part of a system designed to addict us."

*this article was featured on Download.com on June 25, 2018: https://download.cnet.com/blog/download-blog/facebook-is-creating-a-personal-timer-to-curb-your-social-app-addiction/

Here's why Apple is banning cryptocurrency mining on iPhones and iPads →

Apple has joined Google, Facebook and many other tech giants in banning stealthy cryptojackers from secretly using your device.

Despite its continued popularity, cryptocurrency continues to have a rough 2018, with multiple websites and platforms banning ads and apps that secretly use your device to mine for a variety of cryptocurrencies.

Apple quietly updated its App Store review guidelines, banning apps from running "unrelated background processes, such as cryptocurrency mining."

"Apps may facilitate virtual currency storage, provided they are offered by developers enrolled as an organization. In addition, apps may not mine directly for cryptocurrencies, unless the mining is performed in the cloud or otherwise off-device," the new rules say, adding that any apps offering initial coin offerings (ICOs) must "originate from established banks, securities firms, futures commission merchants, or other approved financial institutions."

Developers are still allowed to create apps that run cryptocurrency trades but they cannot "offer currency for completing tasks, such as downloading other apps, encouraging other users to download, posting to social networks."

As noted by Ars Technica, one of the reasons for the ban may be to keep the miners from depleting a user's battery life while running in the background. Apple has put a heavy focus on iPhone battery life lately, with iOS 12 offering even more insight into battery use.

Another reason could be the controversial nature of cryptocurrencies in general.

Cryptocurrencies were largely unregulated until last year, when the SEC began to sniff around following a number of obvious scams that cost investors millions. They took particular aim at ICOs, and warned investors that these cryptocurrency marketplaces were not regulated by the SEC.

The SEC shut down PlexCoin in December, calling it a "a full-fledged cyber scam" and released a statement in March reminding investors that while cryptocurrency is a vital source of innovation, it needs to be scrutinized more closely because the SEC has little regulatory power over them.

"The SEC staff has concerns that many online trading platforms appear to investors as SEC-registered and regulated marketplaces when they are not. Many platforms refer to themselves as 'exchanges' which can give the misimpression to investors that they are regulated or meet the regulatory standards of a national securities exchange," they said in a March 7 press release. 

"Although some of these platforms claim to use strict standards to pick only high-quality digital assets to trade, the SEC does not review these standards or the digital assets that the platforms select, and the so-called standards should not be equated to the listing standards of national securities exchanges."

Days after the statement, co-director of the SEC's Enforcement Division, Stephanie Avakian, announced that dozens of cryptocurrencies were under investigation. In January, Facebook banned all ads promoting cryptocurrencies and Google did the same in June 2018. Google also banned cryptocurrency mining extensions on the Chrome web store, which had been rife with crypto apps that plagued users by mining coins secretly and selling their data.

Google found that despite their rules allowing cryptomining as long as users were informed, "approximately 90% of all extensions with mining scripts that developers have attempted to upload to Chrome Web Store have failed to comply." Users also pilloried YouTube for pages overrun by cryptojacking mining code.

LinkedIn, Twitter, Google, and Snapchat have all banned ads featuring ICOs and more continue to look for ways to stop cryptojacking, which is ruining devices and jacking up energy bills. In November, a researcher found nearly 2,500 websites running some form of cryptojacking software designed to use your device to mine for a variety of coins‚but typically the cryptocurrency Monero.

Apps on iPhones, iPads, and MacOS found in the App Store are not allowed to use a device's processor to mine for cryptocurrency. Apple made security a key facet of their Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) presentation, highlighting a new feature called 'Intelligent Tracking Prevention' that is designed to stop websites from monitoring you as you browse the web.

Apple dealt with an issue earlier this year involving the Calendar 2 app, which was found to have been using people's devices to mine for Monero. One user reported the app using 200% of their device's CPU.

Critics have been divided on whether the constant stream of bad news about cryptocurrency has affected their price on the market. The price of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin all fell in March after news about potential SEC investigations broke and Google, as well as Facebook, announced their bans. But some say the prices have not fluctuated much and the scrutiny may help the more established cryptocurrencies over any new offerings.

*this article was featured on TechRepublic.com on June 12, 2018: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/heres-why-apple-is-banning-cryptocurrency-mining-on-iphones-and-ipads/

Going green? Here are the easiest ways to recycle your old tech devices →

Apple, Amazon, and other tech companies offer a host of programs that will help give your device a second life.

We all have a shoebox stashed away somewhere full of fraying cords and ancient hardware from a different era. As tech companies pump out newer, sleeker, and faster devices on a year-to-year basis, it's only natural for certain devices to lose their luster or fall into disrepair.

By 2020, Greenpeace estimates there will be 6 billion smartphone users, each replacing their phones every two years, on average. The waste from smartphones, as well as obsolete desktops and laptops, is already straining the environment in a number of different ways.

E-waste is growing out of control, with the United Nations finding in 2014 that over 40 million metric tons of devices and parts found their way into landfills. They estimate a 21% increase in 2018. However, tech companies have started to step up to the challenge, expanding recycling programs and offering more refurbished devices for sale.

Amazon offers gift cards for any old devices that still work and provides clear directions for sending in any items that no longer function. They have an easy-to-follow portal that prints a UPS shipping label for you to quickly send your device back. Smartphones, tablets, Kindles, and games are accepted for return.

The company supports "the responsible disposal and recycling of electronics products" and has over 30,000 collection sites for rechargeable batteries, it says on its website. You can even recycle the boxes your Amazon purchase comes in. Amazon also allows you to donate any other non-electronic items you may have by putting them in your used boxes and printing a free UPS label from their Give Back Box program. Donations go to your local participating charity.

Similarly, Apple has a robust recycling effort, dangling the prospect of Apple Gift Cards for any prospective refurbishers.

"No matter the model or condition, we can turn it into something good for you and good for the planet. And through April 30, we'll make a donation to Conservation International for every device we receive — getting us even closer to leaving the world better than we found it," Apple wrote on its website.

After only a few questions, users can figure out how much their old device is worth, or if it's worth anything at all, and instantly get Apple Store credit or Apple Store Gift Cards. Apple claims to disassemble at least 200 iPhones an hour using Daisy, a robot designed specifically for the recycling process. They have been eager to take on the recycling challenge and continue to push for more and more ways to reuse minerals and parts in old devices.

In an April press release, CEO Tim Cook said that Apple would continue to push "the boundaries of what is possible with the materials in our products, the way we recycle them, our facilities and our work with suppliers to establish new creative and forward-looking sources of renewable energy because we know the future depends on it."

Apple has lead the way in publicly condemning the environmentally-costly lifecycle of most devices on the market, writing in their environmental responsibility report last year that they needed to move toward "a closed-loop supply chain, where products are built using only renewable resources or recycled material."

Google has its own recycling program, offering both mail-in services and collection sites. Both Google products and other electronics can get you something from the Google Store.

Sony established one of the first recycling programs for their televisions and electronics in 2007. In 2016, they collected 9,749 tons of used consumer electronics and aim to have a collection center within 20 miles of 95% of the homes in North America.

As of March last year, Sony cumulatively collected approximately 222,727 tons of electronic devices. You can also contact them online with any questions about how and where to recycle any old devices or electronics. Although they don't offer payment or credit for any non-Sony devices, they do recycle everything for free and have a special program for rechargeable batteries.

Samsung, now the world's largest smartphone producer, organizes a number of different recycling programs for their devices. They have collection sites across the US for devices, batteries, and printer toner, but do not offer mail-in services. Depending on the state, Samsung is required to recycle their devices at no cost to you. They do not say whether credit or gift cards are offered in exchange for old devices.

LG has programs similar to other tech giants, allowing mail-in recycling in the US at no cost. They also have drop-off sites where you can bring in anything from a TV to a smartphone. It is unclear from their website whether they offer any reward for products that still work.

There are also many charities and non-profit organizations collecting electronics and putting them to good use. Music & Memory collects old iPods and mp3 players and refurbishes them for use in nursing homes. Other organizations offer home pick-ups of old electronics and devices that you no longer need.

Before letting that shoebox overflow with old devices, cords, and batteries, check an organization's website to see if you can be rewarded for recycling.

*this article was featured on the Tech Republic website on April 20, 2018: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/going-green-here-are-the-easiest-ways-to-recycle-your-old-tech-devices/

The 5 greenest tech companies in 2018 →

Tech giants are rethinking their reliance on 19th-century energy sources and hazardous chemicals.

The environmental movement has shown no signs of slowing down nearly half way through 2018. In advance of Earth Day, Apple announced that it was going full clean energy, powering all of its offices, data centers, and stores with a variety of environmentally-friendly power sources. Apple also wrangled some of its suppliers into committing to 100% clean energy, too.

Apple and other tech companies have gone to great lengths to project an awareness of the environmental impact of their business models. Many now release yearly "Environmental Impact" reports and one-up each other with admirable strides toward cleaner technology use.

But the reality, as a number of environmental organizations continue to point out, is that most of these companies are reliant on a business model that requires consumers to buy new phones, laptops, and tablets frequently. And that creates a lot of waste.

The problem has little to do with how we use a device and more to do with how we acquire it and get rid of it. There are more than 65 million metric tons of e-waste worldwide now, yet 70-80% of the energy footprint of a device occurs during manufacturing, according to Greenpeace.

The manufacturing of these devices, which occurs mostly in China and Southeast Asia using products mined in dangerous conditions across the globe, requires extensive waste and coal burning. Some companies are beginning to address this, with new recycling programs and energy-conscious supply chains. Here are the five greenest tech giants, as ranked by Greenpeace.

1. Apple

When it comes to going green, Apple has had a very successful year so far, after facing heavy criticism last fall following allegations that it may have intentionally degraded the batteries in their phones. Apple has been more transparent than many companies about its supply chain and the need to make it more energy conscious. They have invested more in recycling programs that can harness some of the materials needed for devices outside of the mining process.

Their massive data centers are powered 100% by renewable energy, according to a press release. They have come out in support of the Paris Climate Agreement and have worked to root out child labor issues amongst larger efforts to move to a closed-loop supply chain.

2. HP

HP is one of the few companies striving to do the opposite of most other tech companies. Oversaturated markets have forced some companies to make products that degrade quickly. According to Greenpeace, the average smartphone lasts only two years now, forcing users to buy new models with increasing frequency. But HP, along with Dell and a few others have moved in the opposite direction, making products that do stand the test of time and are upgradeable.

HP set concrete goals on reducing emissions throughout their supply chain and actually publish a list of materials that they restrict during the manufacturing process. The company claims to have seen a 21% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity in its supply chain since 2010, and has been able to strong arm more than 90% of its suppliers into setting emissions targets.

In addition to their internal efforts, HP also backed the Paris Climate Agreement. According to their Sustainability report in 2016, HP has worked hard to bring their consumption down to 900,000 tons of materials used in 2016 for products and packaging and 119,900 tons of equipment collected for recycling.

3. Dell

Dell is one of the only major tech companies that openly provides a detailed and extensive list of suppliers in addition to what kind of services were rendered for each deal. Like HP, they are bucking the trend and making devices that are lasting longer and easily upgradeable. When it comes to their plastic use, its on a closed-loop, so anything used is recycled and reused. They claim to reuse more than one third of the plastic involved in their manufacturing process.

The firm heavily markets their refurbished devices and laptops, designing them specifically with repair in mind. Dell also sells spare parts widely, and releases extensive manuals on how to repair their laptops and tablets. Due to a reliance on cobalt, they have worked with authorities to clear their suppliers of child labor. Transparency has been one of Dell's major focuses, and they worked to identify, contain, and limit the use of dangerous chemicals necessary for their devices.

4. Microsoft

Although it has been on the receiving end of criticism for the short lifespan of its devices, Microsoft has been public about its support for green initiatives, backing the Paris Climate Agreement and the Clean Power Plan. The company also supported environmental efforts in Japan.

The repairability of their devices can range widely, but they have a robust offering of refurbished devices and do report some of the materials used in the manufacturing process. They have also been working to make their data centers more environmentally conscious as they expand across the globe, as noted in a blog post. The targets for emissions they have set are lower than those of Apple, but they are one of few companies to actually set any goal at all.

Many of the company's products and suppliers are listed in an effort to combat trafficking or child labor within their supply chain.

5. Lenovo

Lenovo has worked hard to surpass its Chinese peers by presenting clear plans demonstrating how it will cut its emissions, which are growing steadily each year. They provide a detailed snapshot of their greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint, according to a recent sustainability report.

Lenovo has also committed to ending its use of certain hazardous chemicals and recycles some of the plastic used in its manufacturing process, the report said. The company has worked to sell lines of refurbished devices and controls nearly 20% of the global laptop market.

As noted in the report, Lenovo made a commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions in their own operations by 40% before the year 2020. When it comes to their suppliers, they have forced most to set some emissions goals, but could do more.

*this article was featured on the Tech Republic website on April 20, 2018: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/the-5-greenest-tech-companies-in-2018/

Could Facebook's data debacle force more companies to act like Apple on privacy? →

Apple CEO Tim Cook called on Congress to create tougher measures protecting people's data and privacy.

At a recent forum in Beijing, Apple CEO Tim Cook called on US legislators to address digital privacy issues, highlighting the need for corporations to let their customers know how, when, and why their data is being used.

"The ability of anyone to know what you've been browsing about for years, who your contacts are, who their contacts are, things you like and dislike and every intimate detail of your life—from my own point of view, it shouldn't exist," he told the crowd at the annual China Development Forum on Saturday.

Cook later added: "I think that this certain situation is so dire and has become so large that probably some well-crafted regulation is necessary."

Facebook is reeling from revelations aired last week that the company had been allowing third-party app makers, developers, and others widespread access to significant amounts of their data. Many users have complained that they were not aware of Facebook's use of their personal data, 'like' history, and other profile features.

The news has prompted a growing #DeleteFacebook movement, wreaking havoc on Facebook's stock market position and forcing CEO Mark Zuckerberg to release multiple apologies, even acquiescing to possible legislation by Congress.

"We've worried for a number of years that people in many countries were giving up data probably without knowing fully what they were doing and that these detailed profiles that were being built of them, that one day something would occur and people would be incredibly offended by what had been done without them being aware of it," Cook said, according to Bloomberg. "Unfortunately that prediction has come true more than once."

British news outlet Channel 4 released a series of videos and stories last weekillustrating how political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica used over 50 million American Facebook profiles to craft and bombard people with hyper-specific political messaging, some of which they openly admitted was propaganda and false information.

Both US and EU lawmakers are scrutinizing Cambridge Analytica's actions as well as Facebook's privacy policies concerning how they store and market access to people's data.

In an attempt to address this very issue, the EU passed the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a set of rules designed specifically to protect data collected by any company that does business in any EU nation. The 2016 legislation comes into effect on May 25, and companies are scrambling to comply with it.

"Under the GDPR, before processing any personal data, a business must ask for explicit permission from the subject. The request must use clear language. The provisions of the regulation specifically outlaw the use of long documents filled with legalese, so hiding permissions within a tome called Terms and Conditions or Privacy Policy will not suffice," according to Tech Republic. "The consent must be given for a specific purpose and must be requested separately from other documents and policy statements."

Cook's predecessor, Steve Jobs, called on companies in 2010 to do many of the things listed in the GDPR themselves, warning of privacy issues that may crop up in the future.

"Privacy means people know what they're signing up for, in plain English, and repeatedly," Jobs said in a speech, according to TechCrunch. "I'm an optimist; I believe people are smart, and some people want to share more data than other people do. Ask them. Ask them every time. Make them tell you to stop asking them if they get tired of your asking them. Let them know precisely what you're going to do with their data."

*this article was featured on the Tech Republic website on March 26, 2018: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/could-facebooks-data-debacle-force-more-companies-to-act-like-apple-on-privacy/