Remove apple tv app from devices?

A free year of Apple TV came with my MacBook Pro. Since I'm about out of time to activate it, I went to do that today, but stopped to read the policy about how data is managed. I find that policy so intrusive that I don't even want the TV app on my devices. I don't want any possibility of it ever being activated.


Knowing Apple, I suspect I know the answer, but I'm wondering if I can remove the TV app without damaging any other media apps I might want to use. Though I think if the data policies for the other apps are as offensive as the one for the TV app, I might have to find a completely different way to deal with media.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Feb 2, 2020 6:47 AM

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5 replies

Feb 2, 2020 11:59 AM in response to teryg

While it may sound intrusive Apple is one company that does in fact respect user's privacy and they do not misuse customer's data. If you are using any other streaming services or social media apps then those would in fact be using your data in a multitude of ways and if you read their policies I think you would find them much more suspect.


The TV app itself is used to consolidate content from various streaming services (where applicable) along with iTunes purchases. While you can opt out of integration for 3rd party apps and choose to not use Apple TV channel subscriptions it is not possible to avoid use if one has any purchased or rented content.


Ultimately, you would need to think about limiting all online activities and sticking to physical media if you want to avoid such things.

Feb 2, 2020 12:36 PM in response to vazandrew

Thanks, but I am interested in using their software to access media: music, tv, movies, maybe podcasts. In order for me to do that, they want to monitor and store information about what I watched, when, what device I used, and where in the content I paused or stopped. They want to look at and store info about the approximate number of phone calls I make and emails I send and receive.


Some of what they want to monitor and store makes at least a little bit of sense. But why do they need to know where I paused or stopped? And why do they need to know the number of phone class I make or receive, and the number of emails I make and receive?


I usually read these policies before I agree to them, and I do find many of them overly intrusive. But my phone calls and emails? Really?


Also, the fact that they *might* not misuse customer's data right now does not mean that will remain the case for the length of time they store the data. Nor does it mean they'll notify customers if and when they decide to use the data differently.




Feb 2, 2020 1:36 PM in response to teryg

This is a user helping other users with tech questions forum, you are not addressing apple here just fellow users


what is the point and best case scenario of having this debate With other users spending time attempting to brain storm fellow users problems with possible solutions ?


if you wish to let apple know your mind use their feedback channel

https://www.apple.com/feedback/


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Remove apple tv app from devices?

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