Apple privacy feature to make it harder to track iPhone users
Apple says it will roll out a new privacy control in the spring to prevent iPhone apps from secretly shadowing people. The delay in its anticipated rollout aims to placate Facebook and other digital services that depend on such data surveillance to help sell ads.
Although Apple didn't provide a specific date, the general timetable disclosed Thursday means a long-awaited feature known as App Tracking Transparency will be part of an iPhone software update likely to arrive in late March or some point in April.
After delaying the planned September introduction of the safeguard amid a Facebook-led outcry, Apple had previously said it would come out early this year. Apple released the latest update as part of Data Privacy Day, which CEO Tim Cook will salute during a speech scheduled Thursday at a technology conference in Europe.
Apple has been holding off to give Facebook and other app makers more time to adjust to a feature that will require iPhone users to give their explicit consent to being tracked. The same safeguard was supposed be in the latest round of operating systems for iPads and Apple TVs, too.
Currently, apps are automatically given a tracking code unless users of iPhones and other Apple devices go to the extra trouble of changing their privacy controls on their own.
Analysts expect a significant number of users to deny that permission once it requires their assent. Currently, iPhone users are frequently tracked by apps they install unless they go into an phone's settings to prevent it.
Facebook lashes out
Facebook stepped up its attacks on Apple's new privacy control last month in a series of full-page ads in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and other national newspapers. That campaign suggested some free digital services will be hobbled if they can't compile personal information to customize ads.
On Wednesday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg questioned Apple's motives with the changes, saying the iPhone maker "has every incentive" to use its own mobile platform to interfere with rivals to its own messaging app.
"Apple may say that they are doing this to help people, but the moves clearly track their competitive interests," Zuckerberg said.
Google, which also relies on personal data to power the internet's biggest ad network, hasn't joined Facebook in its public criticism of Apple's forthcoming controls on tracking. Google profits from being the default search engine on the iPhone, a prized position for which it pays Apple an estimated $9 billion to $12 billion annually.
Google warning
But Google warned in a Wednesday blog post that Apple's new controls will have a significant impact on ad revenue generated from iPhones in its digital network. Google said a "handful" of its iPhone apps will be affected by the new requirement, but did not identify which ones.
"We remain committed to preserving a vibrant and open app ecosystem where people can access a broad range of ad-supported content with confidence that their privacy and choices are respected," wrote Christophe Combette, group product manager for Google Ads.
Apple also released an 11-page report to illustrate how much apps can learn about their users in daily life.
In addition, a recent security threat led the company to release iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 updates on Tuesday. An anonymous researcher found that attackers may— be able to remotely hack certain iPhones, iPads and iPods.