{
  "slug": "spotlight",
  "category": "launchers",
  "name": "Spotlight",
  "description": "The search and launcher built into macOS and iOS for finding apps, files, settings and information, with online suggestions from Apple that can be turned off.",
  "website": "https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/find-what-you-need-with-spotlight-mchlp1008/mac",
  "license": null,
  "platforms": [
    "macos",
    "ios"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "US",
    "name": "United States",
    "eyes": "Five Eyes",
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": "provider"
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "F",
  "score": 35,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "Spotlight scores 35 out of 100 (grade F) on the app launchers criteria. It meets 1 of 4 criteria: no ads or data sales. It partly meets no trackers or telemetry. It does not meet open source and independent audit. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/launchers/spotlight/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/launchers/spotlight/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Closed source."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/siri-suggestions-search/",
      "note": "No third-party trackers. Spotlight sends queries, location and related data to Apple for suggestions by default, linked to a rotating identifier, and this can be turned off."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/",
      "note": "No ads in Spotlight. Apple states it does not sell personal data."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T07:01:50.481Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T07:44:20Z"
}