• The podcasts subscriptions you purchase in Apple Podcasts are associated with your Apple ID.
• Your podcast listening data is linked to a random device identifier that is not stored with your Apple ID.
• We collect your podcast listening data in order to understand, and report to podcast providers in an aggregate manner about, podcast listening activity.
• We also collect data about your use of Apple Podcasts, for example, taps.
• To help identify and prevent fraud, information about how you use your device, including the approximate number of phone calls or emails you send and receive, will be used to compute a device trust score when you attempt a purchase. The submissions are designed so Apple cannot learn the real values on your device. The scores are stored for a fixed time on our servers.

Protecting the privacy and security of your information is a priority for everyone at Apple. We work hard to collect only the data we need to make your experience better, and when we do collect data, we believe it’s important for you to know what we’re collecting and why we need it, so you can make informed choices. Apple Podcasts, like every Apple product and service, is designed with these principles in mind.

Providing and Improving Apple Podcasts

We collect data about podcast listening and interactions in order to provide and improve the service, and to understand and provide aggregate reports about podcast listenership. This data includes information about the podcasts you listen to, such as how much of a podcast you listen to, when you listen, and when you stream, download, or follow. To help improve and personalize the service, we collect information about your interactions with Apple Podcasts, such as links you tap on. We designed Apple Podcasts so that this data is not linked to other Apple services. This information is associated with a random unique identifier that is specific to Apple Podcasts and not stored with your Apple ID. We use iCloud to sync the identifier across your devices that are signed in to iCloud. To reset the identifier included in playback data sent to Apple on an iOS or iPadOS device, go to Settings > Podcasts > Reset Identifier. This will also reset the identifier for any paired watchOS devices.

As a convenience to you, Apple Podcasts syncs the play position of the podcast episodes you are listening to, as well as the contents of your library, including the shows you follow, the episodes you have saved, and your stations so that you can enjoy the same Apple Podcasts experience from any of your devices. This information is stored in association with your Apple ID. You can disable syncing of your library in Settings.

We use information about your channel subscriptions, followed Podcasts, recent Podcast plays, and recent recommendations to personalize the service and help you discover the content that’s most relevant to you. You can disable personalization in Apple Podcasts, as well as in the App Store, Apple Books, iTunes Store, Apple TV, and for subscriptions from Apple, by turning off Personalized Recommendations for your Apple ID. On your iOS or iPadOS device, go to Settings > [your name] > Media & Purchases > View Account, and then tap to turn off Personalized Recommendations. We share data with podcast providers only in aggregate form. We do not share any of your personal data with third parties. Keep in mind, however, that when you play or download podcast episodes from some podcast providers or use Siri to listen to an audio brief, those providers may be able to collect information about your use of their podcasts, and that collection is governed by their privacy policies and practices. For example, when you add a show by URL or listen to a podcast that is hosted by a third-party hosting platform, your device connects directly to the third-party hosting platform to provide you with the requested content. When it connects, your device’s IP address will be visible to the third-party hosting platform. The handling of your IP address by the third-party hosting platform is governed by the privacy policies of this third party.

Other apps and devices that offer Apple Podcasts integrations may request access to Apple Podcasts and your Podcasts Library. If you give such permission to an app or device integration, it can access information like your library, your podcast play activity, and your recommendations. A permitted app or device can also modify data associated with your account, such as which podcasts are in your library. You can disable an iOS or iPadOS app’s access on your iOS or iPadOS device by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Media & Apple Music. You can disable access by other apps or devices in your Apple Music account settings.

Communicating with You

Apple may use information about your account, such as the Apple products you own and your subscriptions to Apple services, to send you communications about Apple Podcasts and other Apple products, services, and offers that may be of interest to you. Apple may also use information about your purchase activity within Apple Podcasts to send you emails and push notifications about new features, content, and offers available on Apple Podcasts. You can change your email preferences and opt out of receiving these emails by going to appleid.apple.com. To update your notification preferences on an iOS or iPadOS device, go to Settings > Notifications > Podcasts. Apple uses information about your interactions with our communications, including notifications, to improve our services.

Apple Podcasts Subscriptions

If you purchase podcasts subscriptions from Apple Podcasts, we will use personal data that is necessary to process your purchase transactions, such as your account and payment information, which you can access and change in Settings, and your purchase history. We may also use your personal data to check whether you are eligible for a free trial or special offer from Apple Podcasts.

We use information about your active subscriptions to Apple services and third parties purchased through the App Store to check whether you are entitled to access additional subscribed content in Apple Podcasts. If you have previously purchased a subscription directly from a third party with available content, you will be able to verify your subscription with the third party and get access to such content.

Preventing Fraud and Other Malicious Activity

When you use a payment card, Apple may retain and automatically update your card number and billing information for future purchases, recurring transactions, or other uses you authorize. Apple may obtain this information from your financial institution or payment network, and also use it for fraud prevention and verification.

We will also compute a device trust score on your device when you attempt a purchase using information about how you use your device, including the approximate number of phone calls or emails you send and receive. The submission is designed so Apple cannot learn the underlying values on your device. The score is stored for a fixed time on our servers.

Apple may use information about your use of Apple Podcasts to prevent or take action against activities that are, or may be, in breach of the iOS or iPadOS Software License Agreement or applicable law.

Applicable Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data

We process your personal data in Apple Podcasts generally for performance of your contract with Apple, as necessary for providing the service, and to comply with our legal obligations. Where consent is the appropriate legal basis, we seek it in accordance with applicable local law.

Where applicable local law provides, we process personal data as necessary for purposes of our legitimate interests or those of a third party, in order to:

• Display content available to you
• Sync your playback position and library across devices
• Optimize and improve the service for you and others, and send you communications about Apple Podcasts and other related Apple products, services, and offers that may be of interest to you
• Prevent fraud and other malicious activity

The data used includes:

• Your use of Apple Podcasts, including play position and the content in your library
• The podcasts subscriptions you purchase in Apple Podcasts
• Your account, such as the Apple products you own and your subscriptions to Apple services
• Your IP address

Retention

We retain personal data associated with your purchases in Apple Podcasts for the periods specified by applicable laws relating to financial reporting, which vary by region. For most customers, that requires at least a 10-year retention period, but in regions such as China that period can be 30 years. We also retain a record of your purchases for at least as long as you have an account with us to allow you to access that content, again in line with our applicable terms. Some information, such as transactions but not your stored card details, may be retained as business records even after you close your account or stop using Apple Podcasts.

At all times, information collected by Apple will be treated in accordance with Apple’s Privacy Policy, which can be found at www.apple.com/privacy

Published Date: September 18, 2023