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Google Planning to Update iOS Apps With Privacy Labels Soon

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Earlier today, Fast Company shared an article noting that Google has yet to update its iPhone and iPad apps to bring them in line with Apple's new App Store privacy labels requirement. Fast Company speculated that Google might be trying to delay revealing its privacy label data, but it turns out that's not the case.

appstoreprivacy-feature.jpg

According to a report from TechCrunch, Google is not taking a stand against Apple's privacy labels and is in fact planning to add the privacy data to its iOS app catalog as soon as this week or next week.

Apple implemented App Privacy information in iOS 14.3, after promising the feature when iOS 14 was first announced. App Privacy labels provide customers with a way to determine what data an app collects about them before choosing to install it.

Apple is requiring all apps to self-report privacy information in the App Store, and developers must identify all data collection and use cases. Labels are separated into categories including data used to track you, data linked to you, and data not linked to you, which indicates that it is anonymized.

There has been some negativity associated with App Privacy as Facebook was called out for having a lengthy label due to the amount of data it collects, and it's quite possible Google will have similar privacy labels.

As of December 8, all app updates submitted must include the privacy label information, and most Google apps designed for iOS devices have not seen updates since before December 7. It is not clear why Google has delayed updating its iOS apps when it has updated Android apps, but it could be due to the holiday period. Google implements a code freeze from late December to early January, which TechCrunch suggests could be the reason behind the lack of iOS updates.

Article Link: Google Planning to Update iOS Apps With Privacy Labels Soon
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/01/05/google-ios-apps-privacy-labels-update/
Obviously Google loves scooping every bit of data they can get, but at least their software is outstanding.

Compared to a company like Facebook, at least Google's services give me the impression that at least some of their snooping is going to improving those services.
 
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Of course they’re “coming soon, don’t worry guys!” NOW that the media is getting wind that mysteriously none of their apps have been updated on iOS yet on android they’ve seen multiple. I just wonder what will actually happen if they withhold some of the tracking info from the label, and Apple catches them. Will Google really get banned from the App Store like was promised? Time will tell
 
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Just like 343 was planning "all along" to revise Halo Infinite's graphics and delay the game a whole year before the world threw a fit.
 
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Just glanced at the Facebook Privacy info and just learned that the Physical Address entered into the profile is also used for tracking. I had never considered that data point before, but it sure does strengthen the accuracy of tracking (for those that enter their real address). I wonder if they use the Billing Address entered when paying for services? That would be evil.
 
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SW3029 said:
LOL. Google got bad press for holding back app updates to hide their privacy labels. And as soon as that press gets out they come out and shout - "no really, they're coming."

Typical Google.
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Holding back? It's barely been a month since these labels became a thing and a good chuck of that time was a holiday period where almost no app updates come out from pretty much anyone. Seems like there's some grasping at straws going on to try to create some sort of a mountain out of something that isn't even a molehill.
 
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Westside guy said:
Man, people seem to be all about conspiracy theories these days...

Google did their annual code freeze starting on December 11. It runs for about a month, and they do it every year.
Click to expand...
Get out of here with your facts & stuff! Bring on the torches and pitchforks!
 
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