We аre still аwaiting Apple’s iOS 14.5 update, the highlight of which has been the ATT feature, or App Tracking Transparency. It is this update which caused a fight between Facebook and Apple well before its release; it is also this update that will give users a whole new sense of security with regards to tracking and privacy—a hot topic in today’s world.
ATT will require all apps to show a prompt requesting explicit permission before they can start tracking data in any way. Each iPhone and iPad comes with a factory-assigned IDFA number (Identification For Advertisers), which allows apps to track the device and its user. With iOS 14.5, unless the user agrees to data collection, apps and advertisers cannot access that IDFA, source user information, or do any sort of cross-app tracking. This step on Apple’s part has only served to solidify the company’s reputation for consistently providing one of the most safe and privacy-oriented mobile ecosystems.
The App Store terms and guidelines apply equally to all developers around the world, including Apple. We believe strongly that users should be asked for their permission before being tracked. Apps that are found to disregard the user’s choice will be rejected.
This appears to be an indirect response to the confusion around CAID and whether or not it would be allowed unhindered to turn the ATT feature useless. It seems that Apple has made its decision, and that it is willing to stand its ground and put people’s right to privacy above the risk of less-than-friendly relations with the Chinese big tech firms. If an app is found to violate a user’s wishes regarding tracking, it can expect to be removed from the App Store.
