Apple Responds to Report on iOS 13's Frequent Location Tracking Reminders, Emphasizes Privacy

[Thrutheroofnunderground]

I like this feature actually. If there were no notifications, you could have apps that used your location all the time, all day, every day, for years, and you could totally forget about them. It's good to know what those apps that ask you to enable "Always allow" in the name of "the best possible user experience" bullsh*t are doing exactly. It's like you ask a stranger what time it is and they ask you for your wallet "so that they can provide you with the best possible answer".

Just like everything wanting access to bluetooth. I'm glad I get that notification too. It's just another way they're trying to track you. It is very annoying. Why do that constantly want your location? They certainly don't need it in most situations. Even Instagram, I just manually put in the location.
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Oh look, another person who has nothing to add to the conversation. Go read my comment again and use your head to think about it for a few, then get back to me.

I'm clearly complaining about how often this stupid popup comes up. Guess what buddy, apparently unlike some Apple users, I'm intelligent enough to use my device and secure it myself.

Apple really needs a "I'm not an idiot" feature to allow better control of how my device operates [e.g. I want my WiFi off when I press the WiFi button on the control center, I don't want to have to go to Settings to turn it off until tomorrow].

The "until tomorrow" part is very annoying.

 

[ghostface147]

Why would any App need location access in background? They can get enough data from IP addresses

Apps from car insurance companies that check how you drive and give discounts based upon that. Do you slam your brakes a lot? Do you take off from each green light like you’re at a drag strip? Try to drift each turn? You can’t get that info from an IP address.

 

[macfacts]

Yep ... devs can go screw themselves. I'll take my privacy, thanks.

Screw the users too? What about users that want to select "always allow" but get the constant nagging popup asking?

 

[44267547]

What about users that want to select "always allow" but get the constant nagging popup asking?

The ‘Pop-up’ is a permission request, you’re trying to spin this as something you don’t want as a ‘nag’, yet it’s checking your with preference. You’re making this a bigger ‘issue’ than it needs to be.

 

[gsmornot]

I only have two apps with always on and get asked about them semi regular. Weather and my bank app. The bank will look to see where I am when my credit card is used at a terminal. If I am no where close it assumes it may not be me and asks. That has saved me twice over the last couple of years. Sure, I have to tell them where I am but that is the balance.

 

[macfacts]

TOO BAD. Consumers deserve to know.

Consumers do know, this is apple being an annoying nagger.

 

[I7guy]

Screw the users too? What about users that want to select "always allow" but get the constant nagging popup asking?

Apple seemingly has decided they don't want it both ways. That's the trade-off and I can't speak for users (don't know how you can either) however, I'm fine with it.

 

[44267547]

this is apple being an annoying nagger.

Have you considered leaving Apple? [Rhetorical] Perhaps Android is a more suitable option. I mean, if you’re this disgruntled over a ‘Pop-up’ asking your permission, seems like my suggestion would be welcomed in your situation.

 

[Pakaku]

In light of those changes, The Wall Street Journal today reported that some developers are concerned that the location tracking reminders will hurt adoption of their apps

Maybe if they're so afraid of that, they should stop using scummy tactics like tracking

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

This almost reminds me of Windows Vista and their crappy implementation of the UAC dialog.

If I select always allow, I don't need nanny Apple to remind me every few days. I'm not an idiot [though they think all their users are].

Well... if it bothers you so much, & you are “not an idiot”, as you say- you should be extremely confident in your ability to navigate to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, tap on an app, and select the "always" option- as noted in the article that at least one of the two of us read, to stop this message that you have an issue with, yeah?

Sorry, but it takes all the bite out of your complaint, accusation, and chastising- when they literally describe the EXACT way to not experience your “issue”, in the text directly above where you lodged the complaint.

EDIT:
I know that, even with that enabled- you can still occasionally get a message confirming that you are still using that app frequently enough that you would like to continue to grant it background activity privileges... however, that is nowhere even approaching “every few days”. As a registered developer, that always is on the latest iOS version, I’ve been privy to this change for as long as anyone else outside of Apple. I believe I’ve seen this message w/ regards to my Honeywell thermostat about a half dozen times in 2019- so every few months, NOT days.
Further- I (just like you, as you keep reminding everyone) am not an idiot; however, I’ve been on a road trip or camping, where I would like my phone to get max battery life when one of these messages comes up & it is helpful to go: “oh yeah, my phone & thermostat don’t have to be in constant communication sending location data back and forth to see if I’m close enough to home to turn on my air conditioner... I’m not even going to be home for 2 weeks!”, and can go ahead & disable that.
As ever, your mileage may vary.

 

[zooland]

Lots of cry-babies here. Just some extra notification for the good and going thru the roof. In the zillions of useless messages or notification you get this is just nothing.

 

[31 Flavas]

In this day and age I love my privacy. Thank you Apple.

Right, I think some people can be quite too cavalier. Blindly providing "always allow" initially just to make the dialoge box go away and make the app function. But, maybe you only use the app that one time - or maybe like Pokemon GO you use the app for a while, but then lose interest. Re-prompting in this case gives you the opportunity to change that decision. Or, maybe make you rethink just how many apps need "always allow". That is if you've only given one or two apps "always allow" - you're not going to get over loaded with repeat requests to continue.

Perhaps for those apps the iPhone can ask twice, once every three days, then move to re-confirming once a week, or every 1.5 or 2.0 weeks or something.

 

[agffth]

It would be nice (maybe they already have this) if you could get to the app's permissions quickly from within the app. So any time I want to check an app's permissions it's just a swipe or tap away if I'm already in that app.

 

[bsolar]

Well... if it bothers you so much, & you are “not an idiot”, as you say- you should be extremely confident in your ability to navigate to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, tap on an app, and select the "always" option- as noted in the article that at least one of the two of us read, to stop this message that you have an issue with, yeah?

Sorry, but it takes all the bite out of your complaint, accusation, and chastising- when they literally describe the EXACT way to not experience your “issue”, in the text directly above where you lodged the complaint.

You might have read the article but I'm not sure you have understood what's written: doing what you suggest does enable "Always allow" for the App, but doesn't stop the repeated reminder messages the other user is bothered with. From the article, emphasis mine:

iOS 13 also periodically reminds users about apps that are continuously tracking their location, complete with a map of those locations. An on-screen alert provides users with options to continue to "always allow" ongoing access to their location or to limit access to while the app is being used.

As far as I understand, there is no way to "Always allow" an App without iOS always keeping requesting confirmation for the setting every few days.

 

[reden]

Yep ... devs can go screw themselves. I'll take my privacy, thanks.

why are you blaming this on the devs? Do you even know who makes these sort of decisions? I guarantee you it’s not the devs.

 

[ifxf]

I think this is a sneaky way for Apple to get you to use Apple maps instead of Google maps.

 

[aforty]

It pops up sometimes and while it can be annoying I'll take being slightly annoyed over having my privacy violated by unknown apps any day of the week.

 

[31 Flavas]

I know that, even with that enabled- you can still occasionally get a message confirming that you are still using that app frequently enough that you would like to continue to grant it background activity privileges... however, that is nowhere even approaching “every few days”. As a registered developer, that always is on the latest iOS version, I’ve been privy to this change for as long as anyone else outside of Apple. I believe I’ve seen this message w/ regards to my Honeywell thermostat about a half dozen times in 2019- so every few months, NOT days.

If developers themselves are concerned that they'll see lower use of their app because of these "re-confirmations" - maybe reconsider why you're nudging or requiring users to to provide "always allow". Facebook clearly will make a case because they just want data to use against you in positioning impressionable ads. But, maybe Pokemon GO's "adventure sync" while guised as allowing you to hatch more eggs is just a shameless grab at location data or a ploy to make you spend more in-game currency on incubators. (or both, etc) I would just say, developers need to think about why functionality of the app is tied to always having access to location data.

Further- I (just like you, as you keep reminding everyone) am not an idiot; however, I’ve been on a road trip or camping, where I would like my phone to get max battery life when when of these messages comes up & it is helpful to go: “oh yeah, my phone & thermostat don’t have to be in constant communication sending location data back and forth to see if I’m close enough to home to turn on my air conditioner... I’m not even go to be home for 2 weeks!”, and can go ahead & disable that.
As ever, your mileage may vary.

Hey good observation!

 

[Rigby]

Have you any evidence that anyone, anywhere has ever stolen your location data?

What kind of evidence do you have in mind? The problem is that without notifications like the ones Apple has recently implemented, it is almost impossible for the average user to know if, when and to whom apps are sending their location data. We know that it is happening at a massive scale (see e.g. the recent reporting by the NY Times).

I like that Apple is including a map in these notifications. Visualization helps to make it clear how intrusive location tracking can be.

 

[gebbl]

Steve said:

“Privacy means people know what they’re signing up for, in plain English, and repeatedly. Ask them. Ask them every time. Make them tell you to stop asking them if they get tired of your asking them. Let them know precisely what you’re going to do with their data.”

Steve Jobs D8 Conference

 

[Bandaman]

why are you blaming this on the devs? Do you even know who makes these sort of decisions? I guarantee you it’s not the devs.

Um ... what?

 

[31 Flavas]

I think this is a sneaky way for Apple to get you to use Apple maps instead of Google maps.

Apple Maps doesn't even provide you the option to "always allow". Everything Apple maps needs location data for is ... well, only for when your using the App. What reason does Google Maps need access to location data when your not using it explicitly for directions to somewhere?

If i'm wrong correct me - but Apple Maps doesn't get an 'exception' to the rules just because its "Apple" maps.

 

[citysnaps]

How about a monthly notification of all apps that are set to "always allow"? That should be sufficient for most people.

That doesn't give the user information about which apps are actively tracking them and their location. For me, that's very useful information.

 

[bsolar]

What reason does Google Maps need access to location data when your not using it explicitly for directions to somewhere?

You can check the App explanation in its location services settings. E.g. For Google Maps, Settings -> Privacy -> Location Services -> Google Maps.

Google Maps states:

To get real-time traffic updates, reminders to leave, and personalised recommendations, chose Always Allow.

Since I don't need any of that I have it on "While Using the App", but actually there do seem to be legitimate uses for the Always Allow setting.

 

[realtuner]

some developers are concerned that the location tracking reminders will hurt adoption of their apps

Boo ******* hoo.