EU Antitrust VP Warns Apple to Give Equal Treatment to All Apps Amid Tracking Changes

[MacRumors]

Amid Apple's planned privacy changes that will require app developers to ask for permission before tracking users for advertising purposes, European Commission VP Margrethe Vestager today warned Apple that it must treat all apps equally, including its own.

In an interview with Reuters, Vestager said that if Apple is not treating its apps in the same way when it comes to the privacy requirements, "it can be competition" that could lead to antitrust issues.

Facebook, the most vocal opponent of Apple's upcoming privacy changes, has claimed that Apple's plans are anti-competitive because Apple's own apps are exempt from the rules. Apple plans to force app developers to ask users before accessing the advertising identifier (IDFA) on user devices for ad tracking purposes, with the requirement to be enforced when iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 are released.

Apple has clarified that the opt-out options apply to all developers who track users, including Apple, but Apple will not need to use the pop ups asking for permission because its advertising platform does not track users.

Vestager told Reuters that thus far, she has not received complaints about Apple's changes, and that she thinks it's a good move for privacy. "It is a very good thing to have a clear opt-out option. If you look at the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, these are some of the solutions we are looking at there," she said.

Article Link: EU Antitrust VP Warns Apple to Give Equal Treatment to All Apps Amid Tracking Changes

 

[svanstrom]

So… don't call it an app, just make it an integrated part of the OS? 😆

 

[cmaier]

So… don't call it an app, just make it an integrated part of the OS? 😆

The article says apple doesn't track users, so apple has no need to use the popup. Same as any other developer who doesn't track users.

 

[SDJim]

Apple has clarified that the opt-out options apply to all developers who track users, including Apple, but Apple will not need to use the pop ups asking for permission because its advertising platform does not track users.

WHY is this soooo hard for people to grasp??? If it were better understood, there would be a LOT of people suddenly dropping Android for iOS.

People don't get it, though. Technology is magic. Technology steals your data. Therefore, all technology works the same and steals your data.

 

[aesc80]

The article says apple doesn't track users, so apple has no need to use the popup. Same as any other developer who doesn't track users.

Yes, but for the EU sake, we want something like a comfort popup - it's a pop up just like anything else, just that is does nothing. It's give you nice peace of mind that you can switch it on and off, on and off ... I have total control! WEEEEEE!

 

[Apple_Robert]

Sounds like Vestager is attempting to apply social pressure as a means of sidestepping the facts.

 

[mzeb]

Back before the internet television providers built demographics and cohorts from data sources that were not based on the individual, only aggregates. We can still do this in the modern day using ip geolocation and the like. There are other ways to target ads that respect a users privacy. The complaint I hear from those tracking users is “but it is hard and we’ve got all this money invested and we’ve always done it this way and things have been fine and WAH!” Sometimes we must do the hard thing because it is respectful, respectable, and right.

 

[dannyyankou]

In an interview with Reuters, Vestager said that if Apple is not treating its apps in the same way when it comes to the privacy requirements, "it can be competition" that could lead to antitrust issues.

Well the funny thing is that Apple doesn’t need a pop up warning for their own apps because they don’t track your activity.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I thought Apple was being equal this whole time with the PRIVACY.

Look at how it's turning out for Facebook.

 

[planteater]

Any step toward privacy is good. But I’d rather see legislation requiring all tracking to be opt-in regardless of platform.

 

[I7guy]

Pop up in Apple apps:

"Apple apps do not track users or use tracking cookies or other technologies. Press OK to confirm you understand this or press Cancel to exit the app if you do not like not being tracked."

 

[Apple_Robert]

Pop up in Apple apps:

"Apple apps do not track users or use tracking cookies or other technologies. Press OK to confirm you understand this or press Cancel to exit the app if you do not like not being tracked."

This looks like off topic to me. No facts needed with Vestager. lol

I hope Apple doesn't bow to social pressure. I like the stance they have made and directing others in the store to follow.

 

[Christoffee]

One thing I’ve noticed, Messages does not require permission to access my photos.

 

[HiVolt]

Well the funny thing is that Apple doesn’t need a pop up warning for their own apps because they don’t track your activity.

Well it is kind of funny, because nobody knows if they do or not. Just because they don't run an ad platform (anymore, thankfully), doesn't mean that they don't somehow accumulate some sort of data.

Nobody can verify it, because Apple does not allow any insight into its operations.

I would only believe it 100% if there was an independent audit performed. Otherwise we're just asked to believe Uncle Tim.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Isn't this stating the obvious? It's really a non-issue, she's just saying that Apple needs to read from it's own prayer book.

 

[coolfactor]

One thing I’ve noticed, Messages does not require permission to access my photos.

Messages gets a free pass because it's integrated into the OS deeply, not an installable app. Same as the Phone app needing access to Contacts. This would stand up in court.

 

[cmaier]

Isn't this stating the obvious? It's really a non-issue, she's just saying that Apple needs to read from it's own prayer book.

Not necessarily obvious - as a matter of law, not at all clear this is required of Apple. Just like I can require guests to take off their shoes when they enter my house and I’m still legally permitted to tap dance in cowboy boots on my hardwood floors.

 

[subjonas]

I prefer being tracked. It makes me feel important.

 

[Cosmosent]

In addition, they should have stated:
We'll be watching you, & we'll using Ronald Reagan's "Trusted but Verified" strategy

Generally, NOT Rocket Science, BIG Tech ONLY does the right thing when the General Public is watching.

 

[gaximus]

Well it is kind of funny, because nobody knows if they do or not. Just because they don't run an ad platform (anymore, thankfully), doesn't mean that they don't somehow accumulate some sort of data.

Nobody can verify it, because Apple does not allow any insight into its operations.

I would only believe it 100% if there was an independent audit performed. Otherwise we're just asked to believe Uncle Tim.

They are a publicly traded company so they have to be honest about what they collect. They could lie, but it that ever got out it would ruin the trustworthiness of the company, and they would loose a lot of money. And it would be very hard to keep that secret, because someone would whistle blow at some point.

 

[Schranke]

Yes, but for the EU sake, we want something like a comfort popup - it's a pop up just like anything else, just that is does nothing. It's give you nice peace of mind that you can switch it on and off, on and off ... I have total control! WEEEEEE!

And that kids is why we now have a popup every time we visit a website asking us to allow cookies, select which, and even if you select non-at-all it somehow knows next time...

 

[kyleh22]

So… don't call it an app, just make it an integrated part of the OS? 😆

...You must be a lawyer lol!

 

[cmaier]

Well it is kind of funny, because nobody knows if they do or not. Just because they don't run an ad platform (anymore, thankfully), doesn't mean that they don't somehow accumulate some sort of data.

Nobody can verify it, because Apple does not allow any insight into its operations.

I would only believe it 100% if there was an independent audit performed. Otherwise we're just asked to believe Uncle Tim.

Since it’s easy to use a wire shark or other technological means to determine what information is sent off the device, and since Apple can’t collect it if it is not sent off the device, your premise that “nobody can verify it” is quite flawed.

 

[Piggie]

I thought it was common knowledge that Apple does track things on phones.
It just uses the for in-house uses, does not sell the data etc, but it does take it.

Of course it would say it uses this data to monitor for problems, improve apps and user experience etc.
But as I said I thought we knew they all did it?

 

[rictus007]

Apps that does not track their users should have unrestricted access to photos/videos or iMessage should ask users to for permission to see pictures. Other than this I don’t thinks there’s anything else to change