Apple has been awarded a patent for a method of generating fake online identities, or "clone" identities, to thwart the online profiling of Internet users, reports InformationWeek. Apple received U.S. Department of Justice approval for the patent on Tuesday. Known as "Techniques to pollute electronic profiling," the patent describes how the clone identity "appears to be the principal to others that interact (with) or monitor the clone over the network," performing activities that would not reflect the interests of the real user. The patent calls automated online monitoring programs "little brothers" and says, "Even the most cautious Internet users are still being profiled over the Internet via dataveillance techniques from automated (little) brothers." Apple has not confirmed the acquisition.
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