Apple to Ban Apps That Reward Users for Enabling App Tracking

[MacRumors]

Apple says that it will ban and reject apps on the App Store that attempt to offer users monetary incentives to enable tracking through App Tracking Transparency (ATT), one of many measures the company is taking to ensure developers follow through with the new framework.

Yesterday the Cupertino tech giant released iOS and iPadOS 14.5 with several headlining features, including ATT. ATT is a new framework on iOS and iPadOS devices that requires apps to ask for users' permission before tracking them across others apps and websites.

It's received significant criticism from companies such as Facebook, which deems it a threat to its business. With the new framework, all apps on the App Store must present users with a pop-up that asks whether they wish to be tracked or not. Users are shown "Ask App Not to Track" and "Allow" in the pop-up.

Following ATT's release, Apple also updated its Human Interface Guidelines with a new section titled "Accessing User Data." In this section, offering a mix of new and previously known information, Apple outlines the design policies that all apps must follow when they attempt to ask a user for their permission to access personal data, device capabilities such as microphone and camera, and consent to track them across apps and websites.

Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, recently said that Apple can only enforce its privacy values through the policies to which apps on the App Store are subject to and that it entirely can't be done at a system level. Federighi referred to ATT, echoing that Apple will enforce the new change as vigorously as it can through the App Store's rules.

The new additions to the Human Interface Guidelines are reflective of Federighi's comments. Apple can expect to see some apps try to circumvent ATT with gimmicks such as imitation or limiting an app's functionality unless permission to track is given. To counter this, Apple's new guidelines bar apps from attempting to mislead users to enable "Allow" for ad tracking by imitation or using a graphic that mimics the system pop-up.

Most notably, however, Apple says that any app that attempts to offer monetary incentives to users to convince them to enable tracking will be banned from the App Store.

Don't offer incentives for granting the request. You can't offer people compensation for granting their permission, and you can't withhold functionality or content or make your app unusable until people allow you to track them.

Don't display a custom message that mirrors the functionality of the system alert. In particular, don't create a button title that uses "Allow" or similar terms, because people don't allow anything in a pre-alert screen.

Don't show an image of the standard alert and modify it in any way.

Don't draw a visual cue that draws people's attention to the system alert's Allow button.

Apple also outlines the do's and don'ts on how apps can provide additional information for why users should enable ad-tracking. The native ATT pop-up offers developers the choice to customize the text to explain why tracking is needed.

Apps can also employ a splash screen before the pop-up appears that provides information about what the tracking is used for. These splash screens, however, must use wording like "Continue," "Next," and not "Allow," which may mislead and confuse users, according to Apple.

If you display a custom screen that precedes a privacy-related permission request, it must offer only one action, which must display the system alert. Use a word like "Continue" to title the action; don't use "Allow" or other terms that might make people think they're granting their permission or performing other actions within your custom screen.

The new section will be helpful for developers looking to make sure they're up to date with Apple's latest guidelines and can be an interesting read for users looking to learn more about ATT and the privacy aspects of App Store apps.

Article Link: Apple to Ban Apps That Reward Users for Enabling App Tracking

 

[berrymetal]

That's neat! go go apple 👌🏻

 

[beanbaguk]

I've not seen a single notification yet......I'm waiting to block the vile app that is Facebook (which annoyingly I need as my family refuse to use anything else).

 

[murad_fourth]

I am already very excited about the privacy features Apple will introduce with iOS 15 in June 7-11.

 

[Wando64]

Well well well. That will kill the business model (at least on iOS) of companies like Gener8 or Brave, based on rewards given in exchange for allowing tracking.

 

[dwaltwhit]

I’m actually a bit conflicted. Should I not be allowed to sell my own info? I’m all for transparency and will block every app from tracking me, but shouldn’t I be allowed to decide to share my info with someone who wants to pay for it?

 

[contacos]

I still haven’t seen a single app asking me. Does that mean they never tracked me or did they not implement it yet and are waiting for the last minute?

 

[SD449]

I am wondering if they will expand their changing serial number tech to the IDFA to stop tracking all together

 

[Wando64]

I’m actually a bit conflicted. Should I not be allowed to sell my own info? I’m all for transparency and will block every app from tracking me, but shouldn’t I be allowed to decide to share my info with someone who wants to pay for it?

While there is a part of me that feels the same as you, I can also see the other side whereby people could be coerced in various ways into allowing tracking.

 

[vagos]

I’m actually a bit conflicted. Should I not be allowed to sell my own info? I’m all for transparency and will block every app from tracking me, but shouldn’t I be allowed to decide to share my info with someone who wants to pay for it?

It's like doing drugs. In a world of infinite freedom you should be allowed to take them. However it's not allowed for your own good.

 

[Karllake]

I’m actually a bit conflicted. Should I not be allowed to sell my own info? I’m all for transparency and will block every app from tracking me, but shouldn’t I be allowed to decide to share my info with someone who wants to pay for it?

I came to the forum to make this exact point! One the big arguments is that companies and making all this money from data and the user isn’t, i wouldn’t agree for the value you’d get to sell mine but i’m not sure I feel that we should stop others.. there’s an argument that is creates a two tier system of those who can afford the “luxury” of protect data and those who can’t, i’m on the fence on this one and will be interested to see whats said on this.

 

[Saturnine]

I’m actually a bit conflicted. Should I not be allowed to sell my own info? I’m all for transparency and will block every app from tracking me, but shouldn’t I be allowed to decide to share my info with someone who wants to pay for it?

It's a balancing act. Of course your personal information is yours to share as you feel. On the other hand, Apple is attempting to stop companies from crippling apps for those of us that don't wish to to be tracked.

Some will argue it should be a free market and developers that should be allowed to 'reward' users who agree to be tracked. Others will say it's an unscrupulous business practise.

By not allowing developers to offer tracking incentives, I believe Apple is attempting to ensure everybody gets the same app experience regardless of their tracking preference; which may or not be the best attempt at a compromise, depending on your point of view. Either way, you are not 'losing out' by being unable to sell your data. You are getting the same reward you would have gotten had the practise been allowed.

 

[bsolar]

It's like doing drugs. In a world of infinite freedom you should be allowed to take them. However it's not allowed for your own good.

It's an interesting example since prohibition of drugs is in itself controversial and in recent times alternative strategies are becoming more relevant.

 

[Jimmdean]

You have to enable a toggle in order for apps to ask. by default it is off, so apps are automatically told no. to me that is the only part about this that is a little questionable - by default everyone is opted out and there is no automatic indication that anything is even different now. I’m not sure it is anticompetitive, but it’s pretty clear what standard Apple is trying to set - they want tracking-based advertising to die (probably for competitive reasons though). If our wishes (one way or the other) were really at the forefront we should be clearly asked about the change - just like the ”enable Siri” popup.

 

[Karllake]

It's like doing drugs. In a world of infinite freedom you should be allowed to take them. However it's not allowed for your own good.

But if say google says we’re going to mine your data but for every x minutes online you get y points to be transferred into goods or services, I kind of feel this is an open and concentual agreement. Where both parties benefit. I’m completed against sneaky and hidden tracking. But if it agreed then it’s a lot less black and white.

 

[subteran]

I still haven’t seen a single app asking me. Does that mean they never tracked me or did they not implement it yet and are waiting for the last minute?

I think they not implemented yet 🤔. I got 3 apps that asked me.

 

[bsolar]

But if say google says we’re going to mine your data but for every x minutes online you get y points to be transferred into goods or services, I kind of feel this is an open and concentual agreement. Where both parties benefit. I’m completed against sneaky and hidden tracking. But if it agreed then it’s a lot less black and white.

Even assuming this would be a thing... it basically means you are paying for a digital service. Apple's stance is that if you pay for a digital service on their platform they are entitled a cut. Would be interesting to see how such a thing would be implemented...

 

[Mike_Trivisonno]

How is AT&T still in business? They're awful.

 

[zakarhino]

I still haven’t seen a single app asking me. Does that mean they never tracked me or did they not implement it yet and are waiting for the last minute?

When I went into settings after updating I already had ad tracking settings turned off which is what it’s supposed to be if you want to auto deny tracking frequents from apps. You might be in the same camp.

 

[wanha]

But if say google says we’re going to mine your data but for every x minutes online you get y points to be transferred into goods or services, I kind of feel this is an open and concentual agreement. Where both parties benefit. I’m completed against sneaky and hidden tracking. But if it agreed then it’s a lot less black and white.

Hopefully this move by Apple forces Google, et al to start compensating users for their information, because we all know they would never pay for it willingly when they used to get it for free.

 

[RogerWilco]

Expect a letter from AT&T attorneys in 3...2...1.

 

[iStorm]

I've not seen a single notification yet......I'm waiting to block the vile app that is Facebook (which annoyingly I need as my family refuse to use anything else).

I still haven’t seen a single app asking me. Does that mean they never tracked me or did they not implement it yet and are waiting for the last minute?

The apps will also need to be updated before the prompt will show up. See https://www.macrumors.com/2021/04/20/app-tracking-transparency-april-26-enforcement. I wouldn’t be surprised if Facebook and Google wait as long as possible before pushing out another update.

By the way, this app tracking stuff isn’t exactly a new thing with iOS 14.5. It was a new feature in iOS 14.0 and could have been disabled since then (Settings->Privacy->Tracking). All iOS 14.5 is doing is adding more transparency and enforcing the prompt once the apps are updated (if it’s not disabled for everything).

 

[IowaLynn]

Users should never have been tracked to begin with.
Users should never have been automatically optted-in and had to opt-out if possible. Optting should be my decision, no one else's.

I don't want Bing Rewards or any form of points or shopping related. And I try to filter how Google or Twitter etc. track.
Click on Washington Post article link and it can know where on page it was, or email, where you came from to land there "to see how effective web ads and traffic" is.

 

[69Mustang]

It's a balancing act. Of course your personal information is yours to share as you feel. On the other hand, Apple is attempting to stop companies from crippling apps for those of us that don't wish to to be tracked.

Some will argue it should be a free market and developers that should be allowed to 'reward' users who agree to be tracked. Others will say it's an unscrupulous business practise.

By not allowing developers to offer tracking incentives, I believe Apple is attempting to ensure everybody gets the same app experience regardless of their tracking preference; which may or not be the best attempt at a compromise, depending on your point of view. Either way, you are not 'losing out' by being unable to sell your data. You are getting the same reward you would have gotten had the practise been allowed.

Your example only works in a scenario where the developer ties the financial reward of allowing tracking AND the punitive action of limiting functionality. Nowhere is it implied that would be the case. A dev could simply offer a reward for allowing tracking. Whether you accept the reward or block tracking the app's functionality stays the same. Carrot, no stick. ← That's a far more likely scenario because it has no negative associations.

IMO Apple isn't trying to assure everybody gets the same app experience. They are trying to ensure ATT gets the uptake they envision. Otherwise, most apps would probably offer incentives to track and a crap ton of people would take the offers.

We often forget our little tech microcosm rarely reflects society at large. Generally, people don't care about ads or tracking. They find ads annoying but they tolerate them because it's a means to an end. Give them a reward for doing what they already do? Yeah, they're gonna take that all day long. Meanwhile, in our tech feedback loop it's suuuuuuper important.

 

[dohspc]

Macrumors should probably stop using the acronym they created.