Apple’s new privacy-focused tracking prompt appears for iOS 14 users [Updated]

As a privacy measure, starting early next year, Apple will require developers of iPhone and iPad apps to request users’ permission to track their activity in other apps and websites for personalized advertising purposes.

It used to be the prompt for users to allow or deny tracking started in the first beta of iOS 14.4, which was posted last week. A screenshot shared on the MacRumors forums shows the NBA app asking to track a user’s activity, with the customizable fine print indicating that the data will be used to give users a better and personalized ad experience. ” to offer.

iOS 14.4 should be made public in January or February, in line with Apple’s “early next year” timetable for this change. Apple originally planned to roll out the prompt in September, but it has delayed to give developers more time to prepare.

Last week, Facebook claimed that Apple’s new requirement will harm small businesses, adding that it is “more about profit than privacy.” In a full-page ad in the newspaper, Facebook said Apple’s move will force small businesses to move to subscriptions and other in-app payments for revenue, which in turn will benefit Apple’s profits.

“They are harming small businesses and publishers already grappling with a pandemic,” Facebook said in a blog post. “These changes will directly affect their ability to use their advertising budgets efficiently and effectively.”

In response to Facebook, Apple indicated that users deserve control and transparency. “We believe this is a simple matter of standing up for our users,” Apple said, adding that “users should know when their data is being collected and shared with other apps and websites – and that they should have the choice to do so. or not.”

Earlier this week, the nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) called Facebook’s campaign against Apple “laughable” and applauded Apple for its “pro-privacy” change.

“If a company does the right thing for its users, EFF will back it up, just as we will come down hard on companies doing the wrong thing,” said the EFF. “Here Apple is right and Facebook is wrong.”

Updating: The follow prompt also starts to appear in certain apps on previous versions of iOS 14, but quite inconsistent.