Facebook today is criticizing Apple’s upcoming iOS privacy changes to full-page newspaper ads. “We stand up to Apple for small businesses everywhere,” reads an ad in it New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal today. Bloomberg News reports that the ads are related to Apple’s iOS 14 privacy changes that will make it more difficult for companies like Facebook to target users with ads.
Developers will soon have to ask iOS 14 users for permission to collect and track data through mobile apps and websites on an iPhone and iPad. Apple planned to make these changes with the first iOS 14 release in September, but delayed implementation until early next year. These changes will affect Facebook’s ad business, and in particular its developer and corporate ad network, as end users are more likely to opt out of tracking prompts.
Facebook claims Apple’s changes will “be devastating for small businesses” that depend on their ad network to generate sales. The newspaper ads lead small businesses to the Facebook site “speak up for small business,” where a number of business owners are speaking out about Apple’s changes. “Small businesses deserve to be heard,” Facebook writes. “We hear your concerns and we support you.”
While Apple has not responded directly to today’s newspaper ads, the company responded to similar Facebook claims last month. The iPhone maker accused Facebook of “disregard for user privacy.” Apple is a firm believer that the iOS 14 privacy policy will go into effect in early 2021, and has previously said it wants to “allow users to choose whether or not to allow an app to track them.”
Apple launched new App Store Privacy labels this week, shedding light on how iOS apps use your data. In particular, the privacy label on Facebook’s iOS app expands across pages and lists all the data that can be used to track you through apps and websites owned by other companies.
These full-page newspaper ads are the latest in a public row between Facebook and Apple over privacy, policies, and more. Facebook turned down Apple’s App Store policy earlier this year, after it had to remove a minigame feature to comply with the App Store’s strict approval process. Facebook also welcomed the EU’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) this week. Both laws introduce new rules for holders of digital platforms and are intended to force companies to quickly remove illegal content from the internet.
“We hope the DMA will also set limits for Apple,” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement CNBC. “Apple operates an entire ecosystem, from device to app store and apps, and uses this power to harm developers and consumers, as well as major platforms such as Facebook.”