iOS 12.2 can block Web access to your iPhone's motion sensors
Ad agencies are reportedly worried about a change to iOS 12.2 that will allow Safari users to block webpages wanting access to motion sensor data.
Webpages will have to ask users to turn the access on, according to a Digiday report citing two Apple staff members. The change appears to be in response to a Wired report last year which noted that thousands of sites were able to track motion data without permission.
iOS 12.2 is still in beta, and will also include features like HomeKit TV control and Apple News Magazines support.
The ad industry's worry is that people will not only be less likely to try augmented- or virtual-reality ads, but that businesses may spend less on them in the first place given how relatively new AR and VR glasses are.
Motion data typically isn't of much use to advertisers. Conceivably, though, it could be used to monitor user behavior or physical attributes.
Apple itself has been intensifying its focus on AR in the past two years, releasing ARKit for developers and designing iPhone cameras to better handle the technology. It's meanwhile believed to be developing its own AR glasses running a custom operating system. The product could potentially ship next year, though Apple is known to push off launches if it feels technology isn't ready.
Webpages will have to ask users to turn the access on, according to a Digiday report citing two Apple staff members. The change appears to be in response to a Wired report last year which noted that thousands of sites were able to track motion data without permission.
iOS 12.2 is still in beta, and will also include features like HomeKit TV control and Apple News Magazines support.
The ad industry's worry is that people will not only be less likely to try augmented- or virtual-reality ads, but that businesses may spend less on them in the first place given how relatively new AR and VR glasses are.
Motion data typically isn't of much use to advertisers. Conceivably, though, it could be used to monitor user behavior or physical attributes.
Apple itself has been intensifying its focus on AR in the past two years, releasing ARKit for developers and designing iPhone cameras to better handle the technology. It's meanwhile believed to be developing its own AR glasses running a custom operating system. The product could potentially ship next year, though Apple is known to push off launches if it feels technology isn't ready.
Comments
Apple, keep it up! These bastards deserve NOTHING for their criminal acts!
The request is quite common but Apple ignores them, I suspect because Google bought them off.
The option is there for MacOS + Safari, and Microsoft Edge + iOS, but not for iOS + Safari.
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I turn off Location Services all together, and only enable it occasionally (maps, for Apple Pay credit card verification).
I just assumed it was being abused by someone...
So far everything is good.
But, I’ll point out that users often have no idea on how their data is being used. The Facebook experience has shown that companies have no scruples. If they can sell your life or livelihood they’ll do it...
https://forums.appleinsider.com/discussion/184333/appleinsiders-updated-commenting-guidelines/p1
Rule 6
You think only overly-testosteroned who-cares-what-anyone-thinks men visit AI? There's grandmothers, teenagers, wives and believe it or not even men who would rather not have profanities substituting for courteousness. Have at it at work and public places you visit, maybe it looks good on you. But doing it here is not the right place.
Amateur! I'm complaining about why it wasn't on iPhone OS 1.0.
If there’s a sensor on a device that I own, then I want it to be me, not some advertising group, that controls who’s got access to it.
http://experience.apple/iphone/
It’s the same as with cookies…