The problem with this article is that is poorly researched. Most of the services listed are running locally and storage is also local. (Things might change with automatic remote backups, but this is not what's addressed in the article.)
E.g., the Vision frameworks subjects any images to a local (built-in) neural network and returns the scanned text, which is then most probably put into the system clipboard. How is this surveillance, but copy-and-paste in MS Word was not?
> "iCloud secures your information by encrypting it when it's in transit and storing it in iCloud in an encrypted format. Many Apple services use end-to-end encryption, which means that only you can access your information, and only on trusted devices where you’re signed in with your Apple ID."
Edit: Mind that this would still apply much the same to copy-and-paste in MS Word and any (encrypted) remote backups of the resulting documents. Where is the significant difference? Also mind that iCloud backups are not mandatory, but yet another (optional) service.
I love Apple’s privacy stance and have bought in. However this article made me realize that if apple ever wanted to flip the switch and monetize the data they’d have a treasure trove to work from.
It’s not hard to imagine a future Apple facing stagnant revenue growth, a new CEO brought in to turn things around and enabling a new revenue stream monetizing their privacy features as ad features.
I think the real takeaway is we need better government regulations to ensure situations like that cannot occur. Eg. You can’t change the terms of service of existing customers in ways that reduce their data privacy.
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" is a very legitimate and serious question.
Not to mention, it doesn't matter if they actually "do" keep it secure, themselves, as a company, would still have access to all this information.