Apple Forces Developers to Place Its Login Button Above Google, Facebook
June 4th, 2019Just a few days ago, someone was asking me how to sign into the AirBNB app on her iPhone without using Google or Facebook credentials. I thought that there would be an option to enter her email and password, but there wasn’t. That app forces users to supply either Google or Facebook credentials.
I don’t trust Apple, but I trust Google and Facebook even less.
The alternative to Single Sign On in this case was to simply use the phone’s browser to sign in to her AirBNB account using her email and password. Probably not as nice as the app, but there you go.
I proposed using the AirBNB website from a computer and I might as well have suggested that she flap her arms up and down to take flight. Not happening.
I do try to explain that worrying about privacy while using a hardware and software platform designed specifically for surveillance is folly, but I think people need to feel in control somewhat as things spiral further out of control. However, by using one crook’s single sign on widget over another crook’s single sign on widget YOU’RE STILL USING SOME CROOK’S SURVEILLANCE BLOB IN THE APP.
By all means, though, go ahead and press the button if it makes you feel better!
As cynical as I am about this, I did grin at Apple’s optional trick of assigning random email addresses and then forwarding messages to your real email address. Sounds great! Just keep in mind, now Apple is in the middle of your email correspondence with these entities. You’re needing to trust Apple even more with your privacy.
Via: Reuters:
Apple Inc will require developers to position a new “Sign on with Apple” button in iPhone and iPad apps above rival buttons from Alphabet Inc’s Google and Facebook Inc, according to developer guidelines released this week.
The move to give Apple prime placement is significant because users often select the default or top option on apps. And Apple will force apps to offer its button if they want to offer options to login with Facebook or Google.
Apple unveiled its login button on Monday, emphasizing users’ privacy and also introducing a feature that randomly generates an email address to avoid revealing the person’s true email.
