In regards to the sarcasm, Google and Facebook "the companies" purposely use a users data in ways that can abuse their privacy to offer features they believe would be beneficial, so they can get more users and make more money. Where is Apple stands on the other side where it attempts not to use user data in such a way, and uses their strength in privacy as a reason to get more users and make more money. This article is about some rogue employees in China breaking the law on their own, not Apple. Very different than Google the company instruction employees to build software that may concern user privacy.