Germany's Federal Cartel Office said on Aug. 17 that Apple will alter the rules governing how app developers use personal data for targeted advertising on iPhones and iPads, closing a years-long investigation into the company's App Tracking Transparency framework.
Apple to change iPhone ad-tracking rules after German competition ruling
Germany's Federal Cartel Office said on Aug. 17 that Apple will alter the rules governing how app developers use personal data for targeted advertising on iPhones and iPads, closing a years-long investigation into the company's App Tracking Transparency framework.
The FCO found that Apple's App Tracking Transparency framework gave its own apps more favourable consent prompts than those of third-party developers, potentially breaching competition rules.
Under the commitments reached with the authority, consent pop-ups for third-party apps must be redesigned to remove discouraging language and symbols and made visually and linguistically neutral. The changes will apply in almost all European Union countries.
Apple has four months to implement the changes after the decision is formally served. The commitments run for seven years and will be monitored by a trustee.
France and Italy have already fined Apple €150 million and €98.6 million, respectively, over the ATT framework. Developers of third-party apps, including Facebook parent Meta Platforms, rely on accurate user data so that targeted advertisements can be displayed on devices, which generate more revenue than broader campaigns.
- The source does not state the specific changes Apple will make to the visual or linguistic design of the consent prompts beyond removing discouraging language and symbols.
- The source does not identify the trustee who will monitor compliance with the commitments.
- The source does not state the FCO's position or rationale beyond the finding that Apple's framework gave its own apps more favourable consent prompts.
- The source does not state whether Meta Platforms or other third-party developers have responded to the decision.
- The source does not specify which EU countries are excluded from the scope of the changes.
Read the original at The Straits Times