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Apple Shares Details on Privacy 'Nutrition Labels' Coming to App Store

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As part of iOS 14, Apple is introducing a new App Store feature that will provide privacy details for each app that you're downloading, which the company has said can be likened to a "nutrition label" for apps.

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In a new Developer Support document, Apple outlines the information that developers will need to provide on their App Store pages for customers. Apple is relying on developers to offer up their own privacy policies, and developers will need to start adding this information to App Store Connect starting in the fall.
Later this year, the App Store will help users understand an app's privacy practices before they download the app on any Apple platform. On each app's product page, users can learn about some of the data types the app may collect, and whether that data is linked to them or used to track them. You'll need to provide information about your app's privacy practices, including the practices of third-party partners whose code you integrate into your app, in App Store Connect starting this fall.
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Apple says that developers will need to identify "all possible data collections and uses," providing a list of data types that will be shown in the App Store labeling.

Customers can expect to see details on all of the data collected by an app, ranging from name, email address, and address to payment info, location, contacts, and more. Apps will need to make it clear when they access photos, texts, browsing history, purchase history, and more, and whether advertising and diagnostic data is collected.

appstorenutritionlabel.jpg

Apps will need to disclose what the data collected is used for, such as first-party advertising, third-party advertising, analytics, app functionality, or product personalization, and whether data is linked to a user's account, device, or identity.

Developers are also required to understand and outline whether data collected is used for tracking users, aka providing data collected from the app with third parties for targeted advertising purposes.

More information on what developers will need to provide for their App Store listings can be found in Apple's developer document. This feature is expected to become available when iOS 14 launches to the public, though Apple does not appear to have given developers deadlines for when the information needs to be added to the App Store.

Article Link: Apple Shares Details on Privacy 'Nutrition Labels' Coming to App Store
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/09/03/apple-privacy-labels-app-store/
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This is simply wonderful. Thank you Apple.

Facebook et al. run serious risk of massive fraud lawsuits if they lie about this. I hope Apple increases the amount of disclosures in future iOS updates too. Keep turning the screws on these disgusting spyware companies.

I am so thankful to have Apple on our side. They make the best products and work hard to be good to the planet, so paying a premium is an easy decision.
 
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This is good. Will developers be able to explain why they’re collecting this information? How much of this is bad practices/habits by developers vs the trade off for offering a free app/service?
 
What's to prevent a developer from filling out the form incorrectly, and if they get caught, claiming ignorance because it was caused by a bug or that the person that filled the form made a mistake?
 
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Long overdue but Apple should just refer to it as 'permissions' like how it has long been referred to on Google Play Store.
 
icanhazmac said:
Taking it soooooo seriously that they delayed the anti-tracking features in iOS 14?

Its a good feature it is just supremely disappointing that they caved to Facebook over the anti-tracking on the same day they announce this and come out with a privacy video.
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Can you link to the press release from Apple where they have announced they are officially delaying it in the upcoming iOS 14? The only thing I've seen so far is a rumor on rumor site. We all love rumors as some turn out true, and whether they do or not they help pass the time, but they are rumors until Apple says or does otherwise. So in your comments make sure to always distinguish between rumors and actual actions/statements by companies.
 
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ghanwani said:
What's to prevent a developer from filling out the form incorrectly, and if they get caught, claiming ignorance because it was caused by a bug or that the person that filled the form made a mistake?
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Reprucssions. Apple will have to attempt to enforce otherwise it would defeat the purpose of having it. They can't verify everyone, but they don't have to, they can just verify the major most popular apps, and I'm sure users will be happy to research and flag companies that they can prove are being untruthful. If someone breaks a rule, they they would be given a chance to fix it, and if they don't they'd be kicked out of the store. So yes, most may not be upfront in their first pass, but popular apps won't be able to get a way with it for long, and if big companies do it, users will know they did it intentionally since they have large teams to verify what data they are collecting and not.

And while not everything, I assume a lot of those things Apple could use a bot to determine what data they are accessing and not, and if a bot detects they are asking/collecting certain info in app that doesn't align with the privacy statement they can flag it for manual review and then allow the user to fix it or get booted out. I'm sure we will see this get improved more and more each year.
 
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VolceOntra said:
It's a bit unclear if this is just for app updates or for all apps, anyone know?
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New Apps, and updates, existing apps without an update would not have the information entered into the system. Well maintained apps will have the information updated pretty quickly.
 
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ss2cire said:
New Apps, and updates, existing apps without an update would not have the information entered into the system. Well maintained apps will have the information updated pretty quickly.
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Thanks! I can't find this info though... Do you have a link?
 
Excellent initiative. I hope this forces developers to rethink what data they really want to collect and help us trend toward more privacy. Similarly, I hope other app stores and tech companies feel nudged to implement similar policies.
 
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