Developers say Apple's limitations on location tracking are anti-competitive
A group of iOS app developers have taken issue with new privacy policies Apple is set to debut with iOS 13 this fall, saying location tracking restrictions placed on third parties are anti-competitive and could harm their respective businesses.
Apple SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi presents iOS 13 at WWDC19.
Principal executives behind seven apps signed a joint letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook last Friday, claiming the tech giant's handling of third-party software that utilizes location tracking functions in iOS 13 amounts to anti-competitive behavior, reports The Information.
Apple grants a pass for its own apps that track device location but prohibits third-party apps from doing the same, suggesting the company's regulations amount to a "double standard," the group said. Developers are concerned that Apple's decision to restrict availability of location tracking tools gives its own apps an innate competitive advantage, according to the report.
"As Apple expands into additional services, some of which compete with developers like us, the need for a level playing field becomes ever more critical to allow the ecosystem to flourish," the email reads.
Among the executives who signed the letter are Arity president Gary Hallgren, Happn CEO Didier Rappaport, Life360 CEO Chris Hulls, Tile CEO CJ Prober, Twenty chief strategy officer Jared Allgood, Zendrive CEO Jonathan Matus and Zenly CEO Antoine Martin.
Each of the signatory apps integrate a form of device location functionality, with some relying on the technology to power core platform features. For example, Tile monitors the position of its Tile trackers, while Life360 provides users real-time location sharing and geofenced alerts.
"We take responsibility for ensuring that apps are held to a high standard for privacy, security and content because nothing is more important than maintaining the trust of our users," an Apple spokesperson told The Information. "Users trust Apple -- and that trust is critical to how we operate a fair, competitive store for developer app distribution. Any changes we make to hardware, software or system level apps is in service to the user, their privacy and providing them the best products and ecosystem in the world."
Apple has greatly reduced the ability for users to inadvertently enable location tracking features in iOS 13. Currently, users can activate constant, always on tracking upon initial app setup, but that option will not carry over to the next-generation operating system. In iOS 13, tracking must be activated from the system Settings menu.
Developers claim the change will lead users to believe an app is not functioning as advertised.
Further, the developers are concerned that new restrictions applied to PushKit, a tool that enables Voice over Internet Protocol calls, will negatively impact their apps' effectiveness. Certain apps have leveraged PushKit to collect user data, including location information, the report said. With iOS 13, Apple is limiting PushKit's ability to perform background operations, effectively limiting its use to VoIP calls.
The change affects apps like Life360, which harnesses PushKit to dispatch emergency services to a user's location in the event of a car accident, according to the report.
"Like you, we are committed to ensuring that privacy is a top priority, but are concerned that the current implementation will create user confusion that actually undermines this goal," the email reads. "The changes also have the added effect of removing critical geolocation functionality while simultaneously not applying to Apple's own apps, some of which compete with the products we develop."
Apple is working with signatories of the letter to implement alternative means of location tracking, the report said.
Apple could conceivably make changes to iOS 13 prior to its expected September debut, but the prospect is unlikely considering the company's stance on user privacy.
Apple SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi presents iOS 13 at WWDC19.
Principal executives behind seven apps signed a joint letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook last Friday, claiming the tech giant's handling of third-party software that utilizes location tracking functions in iOS 13 amounts to anti-competitive behavior, reports The Information.
Apple grants a pass for its own apps that track device location but prohibits third-party apps from doing the same, suggesting the company's regulations amount to a "double standard," the group said. Developers are concerned that Apple's decision to restrict availability of location tracking tools gives its own apps an innate competitive advantage, according to the report.
"As Apple expands into additional services, some of which compete with developers like us, the need for a level playing field becomes ever more critical to allow the ecosystem to flourish," the email reads.
Among the executives who signed the letter are Arity president Gary Hallgren, Happn CEO Didier Rappaport, Life360 CEO Chris Hulls, Tile CEO CJ Prober, Twenty chief strategy officer Jared Allgood, Zendrive CEO Jonathan Matus and Zenly CEO Antoine Martin.
Each of the signatory apps integrate a form of device location functionality, with some relying on the technology to power core platform features. For example, Tile monitors the position of its Tile trackers, while Life360 provides users real-time location sharing and geofenced alerts.
"We take responsibility for ensuring that apps are held to a high standard for privacy, security and content because nothing is more important than maintaining the trust of our users," an Apple spokesperson told The Information. "Users trust Apple -- and that trust is critical to how we operate a fair, competitive store for developer app distribution. Any changes we make to hardware, software or system level apps is in service to the user, their privacy and providing them the best products and ecosystem in the world."
Apple has greatly reduced the ability for users to inadvertently enable location tracking features in iOS 13. Currently, users can activate constant, always on tracking upon initial app setup, but that option will not carry over to the next-generation operating system. In iOS 13, tracking must be activated from the system Settings menu.
Developers claim the change will lead users to believe an app is not functioning as advertised.
Further, the developers are concerned that new restrictions applied to PushKit, a tool that enables Voice over Internet Protocol calls, will negatively impact their apps' effectiveness. Certain apps have leveraged PushKit to collect user data, including location information, the report said. With iOS 13, Apple is limiting PushKit's ability to perform background operations, effectively limiting its use to VoIP calls.
The change affects apps like Life360, which harnesses PushKit to dispatch emergency services to a user's location in the event of a car accident, according to the report.
"Like you, we are committed to ensuring that privacy is a top priority, but are concerned that the current implementation will create user confusion that actually undermines this goal," the email reads. "The changes also have the added effect of removing critical geolocation functionality while simultaneously not applying to Apple's own apps, some of which compete with the products we develop."
Apple is working with signatories of the letter to implement alternative means of location tracking, the report said.
Apple could conceivably make changes to iOS 13 prior to its expected September debut, but the prospect is unlikely considering the company's stance on user privacy.
Comments
I’m a bit sympathetic for the Tile app, but the reality is the vast majority of these apps can’t be trusted. That said, there has to be some method for users to override the defaults.
in places like the US/UK/Australia iOS is often around 50% (or higher) of installed base, due to the useful longevity of devices (even when Android sells more new devices they drop out of usage faster, and under-index in installed base).
So I get why they are worried - it will hurt them from a product standpoint.
I think Apple is doing the right thing, and not anti-competitive because it does not compete with these SW vendors.
They had Android phones because of price point mostly. We couldn’t trust them not to lose the device, drop it too often and break it or have it stolen at school or something else.
Obviously if everyone in the family had an iPhone we could have used Find My Friends with a Geofence but Life360 gave us the ability to track Android phones from our iPhones. I doubt Apple will give that capability.
I love Apple’s approach to privacy and we all know companies that would abuse this to track you. However there are some legitimate use cases as well, as long as the person is fully aware an app is tracking them in the background then I’ve no issues with it. It’s more the shady companies like Google / Facebook and so on that grab this data for marketing purposes that need to be stopped.
They dont have a RIGHT to know anything about me. And I’d prefer they know nothing st all.
Apple needs to stend firm.
One of the reasons I started and have remained with Apple is their security and privacy protection.
Went from a pc centric environment to an all Apple ecosystem.
While apple isnt perfect snd csn be boneheaded at times, standing up for the customer is why they have so many.
It’s about the size of a quarter (but square) you stick to anything you want to find. Might want to track down that missing TV remote for example.
In general you don’t want apps to be able to track you, but there are legitimate uses...
Developers only have a Farris problem certifications. One is when they do start to exploit services provided by Apple for users which are initially for good purposes. The second assess that’s when they develop something that Apple deems would be better off handled and the operating system without overlap By third-party software.
These particular app companies are being disingenuous in that they are afraid that they can't make the case for always on tracking and they are currently relying on people giving them permission without thinking about it. They are not afraid that you won't be able to use their apps, because obviously if you download it, you are going to give it permissions to work, but they fear that having people make a more conscious decision to allow "always on" tracking will result in fewer people choosing to do so, and them having less data to harvest and sell.