As far as I can tell, this is untrue. Apple has denied using it [0] and the case is better explained by a thief using a false identity alongside bad detective work on the part of police and a contracted security company [1].
I’m with you that it’s gross Apple is using this technology, OTOH though your hiding your face and paying cash to then take what you bought and configure it with a device that identifies you to that very business and probably even can track where you fought it by ID.
I use a brand new apple ID (each of which requires a burner number to create) for each and every device, and I don't attach payment info to the account (free apps only), and I don't put SIM cards in them (apple receives the device serial and sim card serial when you insert one), I don't use iCloud/FaceTime/iMessage, I keep location services off at all times, and I only allow them internet access via a VPN-only router that filters a lot of traffic.
It's a pain in the ass. I've had every one but this 12 pro is very likely my last iPhone.
I have a separate battery powered device that does LTE backhaul and VPN and provides wifi, on which I have root and iptables/tcpdump.
This way the VPN can't be bypassed on the phone, and I can inspect and filter traffic.
Uber can be used by entering an address (eg one a block down from my house) with location services off. The only things I really miss out on are things that don't work at all without location, like the snap map or tinder.
Based on the phone number in your bio you appear to be based in chicago, is there a reason you are so worried about gov tracking but put your real name and phone number in your bio?
This just seems like all incredibly inconvenient as a training exercise but I can't think of real reason someone on hn would do this only to make it very easy to ID them in other ways.
...my SIM card is an SF number, my mailing address is in Manhattan, my domain name ends in .berlin, and I'm in precisely zero of the cities listed in this thread right now. ;)
Still need to be in WiFi range for that… 90% of smartphone things are better on a computer, only convenience makes ppl use the smartphone, but a big part of that convenience is mobile service and GPS. Take that out and you may as well get a dumb phone and use your laptop for everything else.
The phone number itself is linked to them in someway. Paying for your physical device in cash is meaningless if you’re gonna connect to internet you own and use credit cards, etc to operate it.
I think that’s definitely true in some countries but not all. For example, you can buy burner phone numbers (prepaid) in the United States without presenting ID.
If so, is there any source showing that? I'm sure some of the DPAs would be excited to hear about a company using biometrics, likely in violation of Art. 9 GDPR.
EDIT: according to shuckles below, this is incorrect.