Apple limiting third-party tracking in Kids apps in App Store policy change
Apple will help safeguard the privacy of younger iPhone and iPad users, a report claims, by announcing a change at WWDC that will limit third-party tracking within apps offered in the iOS App Store's Kids category, a move that may help put some privacy critics at ease.
Privacy has become a bigger issue in recent years, especially following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, with more people becoming concerned about how their data is tracked and used by companies. The same concerns are also made about the plethora of apps available to both adult and younger mobile device users, with the latter likely not to be as concerned about data security as their parents and guardians.
A person familiar with the matter told Wall Street Journal Apple will be making changes to its policies to limit the ability to include third-party tracking in apps destined for the App Store's Kids category.
While Apple did not comment on the story, a prepared statement advises "For privacy and security reasons, Apple does not see what data users choose to share with developers and we can't see what developers do on their servers."
In recent months, the tracking of consumer data has surfaced as a pressing concern by privacy advocates, including how much data gets shared within apps. One report in February tested a variety of apps reported data back to Facebook that wouldn't normally be expected to be shared, including financial and health data, while another test in December 2018 showed some apps were sharing data with up to 40 third-party entities.
Privacy of younger users has led to the unexpected removal of parental control apps from the App Store, which Apple cited was due to privacy concerns and misusing enterprise tools. Apple CEO Tim Cook has promised an expansion of Screen Time, which may make an appearance during WWDC.
Parental control app developers are urging Apple to release a form of specialized API that would enable their apps to continue working, but without infringing on the younger user's privacy.
Starting on June 3 and running until June 7, Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference will be the venue for all of Apple's major operating system and software launches. AppleInsider will be at the conference before, during, and after the keynote.
Privacy has become a bigger issue in recent years, especially following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, with more people becoming concerned about how their data is tracked and used by companies. The same concerns are also made about the plethora of apps available to both adult and younger mobile device users, with the latter likely not to be as concerned about data security as their parents and guardians.
A person familiar with the matter told Wall Street Journal Apple will be making changes to its policies to limit the ability to include third-party tracking in apps destined for the App Store's Kids category.
While Apple did not comment on the story, a prepared statement advises "For privacy and security reasons, Apple does not see what data users choose to share with developers and we can't see what developers do on their servers."
In recent months, the tracking of consumer data has surfaced as a pressing concern by privacy advocates, including how much data gets shared within apps. One report in February tested a variety of apps reported data back to Facebook that wouldn't normally be expected to be shared, including financial and health data, while another test in December 2018 showed some apps were sharing data with up to 40 third-party entities.
Privacy of younger users has led to the unexpected removal of parental control apps from the App Store, which Apple cited was due to privacy concerns and misusing enterprise tools. Apple CEO Tim Cook has promised an expansion of Screen Time, which may make an appearance during WWDC.
Parental control app developers are urging Apple to release a form of specialized API that would enable their apps to continue working, but without infringing on the younger user's privacy.
Starting on June 3 and running until June 7, Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference will be the venue for all of Apple's major operating system and software launches. AppleInsider will be at the conference before, during, and after the keynote.
Comments
How about offering a category of apps that don't include third-party tracking at all. I would rather pay for an app with no tracking than get it for free and be secretly tracked by it.
Well, maybe not worthless. It's typical PR which too many believe has a substantive reality.
Next, I’d do with I do and write a simple and short email to Apple’s top brass, and Apple’s iPhone feedback page. Contact databases have been called the Wild West of data mining, so the best thing we can really do is bring attention to this issue. The TWS guy brought that issue to the fore and changed the world in the process. Rest assured, if this contact book thing is an issue, sooner or later it will get attention and will have to be addressed. I’d focus on getting the message about this issue out there, but let go of trying to control it on a small scale with relations and that. The issue we have is with Apple and iOS. Focus bigger picture. Let go of small stuff.