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Apple to Limit Third-Party Tracking in Kids Apps

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In a report covering apps that are tracking kids and sending data to companies like Facebook and Google, The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern says that Apple is planning to limit third-party tracking in apps that are in the Kids section of the App Store.

The site says that a "person familiar with the matter" shared the info on the upcoming feature, though Apple declined to comment.

kidsapps.jpg
In fact, Apple will limit third-party tracking in apps in the Kids category of the App Store, according to a person familiar with the matter. Apple declined to comment on this, but a spokeswoman provided a statement:

"For privacy and security reasons, Apple does not see what data users choose to share with developers and we can't see what developers do on their servers."
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In the piece, Stern mentions an iOS app for kids called Curious World that she found was tracking her son, collecting data that included age, name, and books he tapped on, with that data then sent to Facebook.

She went on to test over 80 apps, many promoted by Apple, and all of them except for one included third-party trackers for marketing, ads, or analytics purposes.

Apps tested (which weren't kids apps specifically) included an average of four third-party trackers, and some had many more. The app her son was using had a total of seven trackers in it.

There are no controls in iOS for limiting the tracking features that are used by apps for everything from ad targeting to analytics, though users can download VPN apps that block these services. Stern suggests that Apple and Google should cut down on the amount of data that third-party trackers are able to collect and require app developers to provide clearer disclosures.

Article Link: Apple to Limit Third-Party Tracking in Kids Apps
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/31/apple-to-limit-third-party-tracking-in-kids-apps/
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Reactions: Commodore 64
Why was this allowed in the first place? Apple's touting the app store as a curated/safe place to get your apps and the reason why it should be the only place to get your apps. It also uses this as the defense for the 30% cut they take.

I think more people think the app store is curated than it really is. I read this and think "Apple already sold me on privacy, why are these apps already in the store and on my kids devices?"
 
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Reactions: timeconsumer, clauzzz203, canesalato and 7 others
dominiongamma said:
Without it nothing would be free for us to use that’s the reality of life
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I’d be happy to pay for my apps and services if it means avoiding crap like this, especially for children and especially to escape the evil tentacles of FB.

If I have to carefully budget and trim down the number of apps used, so be it. It makes my blood boil that data on my kid using an app that doesn’t look remotely related to FB is in fact sent to FB. Facebook have proven repeatedly they can’t be trusted with our data at all. They should not have this much access to it among people who aren’t using or knowingly plugged into Facebook.
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Sasparilla said:
Apple should make it so we could say no to 3rd party tracking on any app - starting at install.
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If they would do that, I would ditch my Android phones. It would finally be worth it. But for now I don’t bother because I’m aware stuff like this happens and my privacy isn’t fully secure no matter what Apple advertises.
 
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MacRumors said:

There are no controls in iOS for limiting the tracking features that are used by apps for everything from ad targeting to analytics, though users can download VPN apps that block these services.
Click to expand...

$$$$ > Privacy ("... but we're not Google..."). Good news is a recent study that shows behavioral targeting (using your data) is only a few percentage points better than no targeting.
 
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Reactions: zchrykng
MacRumors said:
iOS app for kids called Curious World that she found was tracking her son, collecting data that included age, name, and books he tapped on, with that data then sent to Facebook.
Click to expand...
Ah, so Facebook once again involved in slurping up data that wasn't being specifically directly shared by the user whose data it was.
 
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Reactions: 5105973
HiVolt said:
Why is 3rd party tracking allowed anyway?
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Simple. You don't like to pay for apps or pay anything that actually covers the cost of the app so ads and tracking services have to be put into apps to make money because apps actually cost a lot of money to make and keep running. Even though most don't think they do, developers do deserve to make a living.
 
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Reactions: rocknblogger, Ronald C Schoedel III, MEJHarrison and 1 other person
Nice to see some support in taking care about our kids. Getting more difficult year over year in the digital world.
 
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velocityg4 said:
How about just make these free apps give an option of paid with zero ads and tracking or free with tracking? Then the parents can decide.
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I suspect most of those with the option to remove ads continue to do trackers and everything else. They just don’t show the ad. I haven’t bothered to verify my guess but given the nature of how apps are built, I feel comfortable with my assertion.
 
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Reactions: 78Bandit
MacRumors said:

There are no controls in iOS for limiting the tracking features that are used by apps for everything from ad targeting to analytics, though users can download VPN apps that block these services.
Click to expand...

That's not the purpose of a VPN, not only that, how would I know if that VPN would really filter out tracking, better do it myself so I know if something tries to slip through.
 
THIS is why everyone wants you to use their app instead of a web based interface — to track the bejeezus out of you. I think  has done the public a huge disservice yammering incessantly about privacy & security when they were the ones that enabled the scumbags to do these shenanigans in the first place.
 gets an "F". Or if I'm feeling generous, a "D-"

And this article is about kids. I guess tracking the bejeezus out of adults it still fine. I change my grade back to an "F".
 
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Reactions: clauzzz203, rocknblogger, canesalato and 1 other person
Apple already has anonymising technology for Safari

Why not just apply the same thing to iOS apps?

Then again, Apple doesn't get 30% of all your purchases done through Safari, so nothing to lose there
 
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Reactions: canesalato and Jimmy James
In the piece, Stern mentions an iOS app for kids called Curious World that she found was tracking her son, collecting data that included age, name, and books he tapped on, with that data then sent to Facebook.

Truth in advertising at least, lol.
 
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