App launchers
Spotlight privacy rating
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.
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.
Score 35 out of 100. How scoring works
Criteria
- No
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Partial
No trackers or telemetry Weight 3 of 3
Are the website and apps free of third-party trackers, with any analytics anonymous and any telemetry off by default?
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.
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Yes
No ads or data sales Weight 2 of 3
Is the product funded without advertising, ad targeting or selling user data?
No ads in Spotlight. Apple states it does not sell personal data.
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No
Independent audit Weight 2 of 3
Has an independent security or privacy audit been published within the last three years?
No independent audit is published.