Data breach fears over iTunes songs

Apple is in trouble with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) for embedding customer information within iTunes music.

Apple includes customer names and email addresses within song files purchased from iTunes, according to Fred von Lohmann, an attorney with the consumer watchdog group which focuses on the web.

Von Lohmann pointed out that data could easily be compromised if an iPod is lost or stolen.

He said: "It's not as bad as losing a credit card number but it's still information that people wouldn't want floating around out there - especially without them knowing about it."

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Apple hasn't said why the company would leave customer information exposed in this way. But some observers have speculated the Mac maker is adding watermarks to music files. Watermarking describes the practice of inserting identifying information into digital files so they can be tracked. Privacy groups frown on such practices but von Lohmann doubts that these were Apple's intentions.

Mike Goodman, a Yankee Group Research analyst, argued that watermarking is "certainly better than digital rights management".

He said: "Watermarking does not treat the consumer like a criminal. DRM is also restrictive, telling you how many times you can play a song or which device it can be played on. Watermarking works on the assumption that a consumer is innocent but provides the industry an opportunity to catch someone that breaks the law."

Tech blogs Ars Technica and Tuaw earlier reported on personal information being embedded within iTunes' music.

Greg Sandoval writes for CNET News.com