> "They refuse to show me how my data is being used."

Apple includes a lot of information about what and how data is stored for their services. Nearly every service is optional, with the exception of getting OS updates and using the App Store for third-party apps. I can understand people who choose not to either believe Apple or want to connect to Apple for OS updates or apps, but that's pretty limited in terms of data. Reasonable people can believe that they do show you how your data is stored, so it's important to be more specific about what you're getting at.

> "They refuse to allow me to control my own data."

They refuse to allow you to control your data in arbitrary ways. Again, you don't need to use their services to store data, and you could chose to install your own software that manages your data pretty much how you see fit. Reasonable people can believe that they allow you to control your own data if you want to.

> "They refuse to set up their system in such a way that they can't abuse my data."

If you don't trust what they've documented, and require compiling your own software, yup, you're stuck. But if you do trust them, they encrypt nearly all of the data (if you chose to use their services) in flight and on disk, so they can't abuse your data.

> "They also have really close ties with at least one group that blatantly disregards privacy." I think you should just come out and name whatever it is you're getting at here.

In each of these cases, if you're specific about what you want to do, it does make a difference in how it comes across.

Based on this and our previous discussion, I think it's more clear and accurate for you to say "I want to be able to audit and compile from source to confirm how my data is being used, and Apple refuses to allow me do that." Hard to disagree with that, if that's your position. Also makes clear your criteria for privacy and trust, without people possibly (incorrectly) thinking you're being deliberately obtuse or ignorant about Apple and privacy.

Now I really, truly am done. Best.

Apple says a lot of things. Just like FB said that they were being responsible with our data. I'm asking Apple to show me what they are doing with my data. If they've been designing their systems properly, this should be simple to do.

> Nearly every service is optional, with the exception of getting OS updates and using the App Store for third-party apps.

But there's still a lot of data that goes back to Apple, which doesn't have to go through them at all.

> Reasonable people can believe that they do show you how your data is stored, so it's important to be more specific about what you're getting at.

But AFAIK, they don't show. They only tell. And I think reasonable people would be distrustful of Marketing-Speak.

> They refuse to allow you to control your data in arbitrary ways.

It doesn't matter how they refuse to allow me to control my data, it matters that they allow me to control my data.

> Reasonable people can believe that they allow you to control your own data if you want to.

But those reasonable people would be factually wrong. It's a fact that their products refuse to decouple themselves from Apple's servers.

> it's important to be more specific about what you're getting at.

Any data. Updates, documents, telemetry data, logs, etc.

I believe that reasonable people would look at what Apple says, then seeing that their actions don't follow, would distrust them. If Apple is spending a lot of effort protecting my data, then why do they work so hard to hide that away from me. To me, that seems like it could have huge marketing potential.