- AppleMessages for Business are encrypted between your device and Apple’s servers and when Apple transmits them to the business.
- Apple doesn’t read the content of your messages with other businesses.
- Your device will suggest which phone numbers are capable of supporting AppleMessages for Business by checking Apple’s servers using a privacy-preserving method.
You can use AppleMessages for Business to interact with businesses, including making payments using ApplePay. These messages have a gray background to distinguish them from iMessages and standard SMS. AppleMessages for Business are encrypted between your device and Apple’s servers, and when Apple transmits them to the business. Apple doesn’t read the content of your AppleMessages for Business conversations with other businesses.
Apple can check if your device is eligible for Apple to initiate an AppleMessages for Business conversation with you. When you chat with Apple, Apple will receive an identifier associated with your AppleID or phone number. This information, and your conversation, may be used to support your interaction with Apple.
When you initiate a conversation with another business, they are provided a session identifier. Other businesses may also receive limited additional information. For example, if you search in Maps for a bank and start an AppleMessages for Business conversation, the business may be informed which branch you chose. This information when held by that business, as well as other information you provide to a business, is governed by their privacy policies. We encourage you to learn about the terms, privacy policies, and practices of businesses you chat with to understand how they use and share this information.
You may subscribe to Business Updates by providing your phone number and authorization directly to a business. Business Updates allows a business to message you with updates such as details about your purchase. If you reply to a Business Update, Apple will provide the session identifier of your AppleMessages for Business conversation to the business to improve the customer service experience. If you no longer want to receive Business Updates, you can disable them by going to Settings > Messages > Messages for Business > Business Updates.
Your device will suggest which phone numbers are capable of supporting AppleMessages for Business. When a phone number is selected, your device will ask Apple servers if the number supports AppleMessages for Business using a privacy-preserving method. Your device will ask Apple servers for a block of phone numbers which may or may not contain the selected number. Your device will use the information returned by Apple servers to determine whether the numbers support AppleMessages for Business.
Applicable Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data
When you use AppleMessages for Business, we process your personal data 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 the following categories of personal data as necessary for purposes of our legitimate interests or those of a third party, including information about:
- Whether you have enabled AppleMessages for Business and if your device is currently able to receive Messages
- Your sessions, such as the duration and number of messages sent
- Your conversations with Apple
These legitimate interests include to:
- Troubleshoot, prevent fraud or criminal activity, or improve related products and services like Apple Maps and Spotlight
- Help maintain the AppleMessages for Business architecture, and improve and optimize the service for you and others
If your inquiry relates to AppleCard and is forwarded to Goldman Sachs for servicing, Apple will share information about you and your inquiry with Goldman Sachs so that they may better help you. Goldman Sachs is available to assist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Goldman Sachs is also available by phone at 877-255-5923 or by mail at Goldman Sachs Bank USA, P.O. Box 45400, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115-0400.
Retention
Apple retains personal data only for so long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including as described in Apple’s Privacy Policy or in our service-specific privacy notices, or as required by law. When assessing retention periods, we first carefully examine whether it is necessary to retain the personal data collected and, if retention is required, work to retain the personal data for the shortest possible period permissible under law.
At all times, information collected by Apple will be treated in accordance with Apple’s PrivacyPolicy, which can be found at www.apple.com/privacy
Published Date: March 5, 2024
