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Apple: Apps should not require users to opt into tracking to access content

developer.apple.com

21–30 of 274 posts

Re: Apple: Apps should not require users to opt into tracking to access content

#21

Everybody complains about the walled garden, but damn I love to see things like this.

Doesn't Apple track every app you install, access and run? Track you if you want to develop your own code for your own fully paid for device?

Re: Apple: Apps should not require users to opt into tracking to access content

#23
post #10

Such things are never going to come to Android are they? Every preinstalled app abuses every permission possible

With a user controlled Android phone, you can just feed apps you don't trust fake location data. But now Google has started restricting user-owned Android to a fixed number of flashes or something, or they get locked out of Google Play Services.

Re: Apple: Apps should not require users to opt into tracking to access content

#24
"Apps should not require users to rate the app, review the app, watch videos, download other apps, tap on advertisements, enable tracking, or take other similar actions in order to access functionality, content, use the app, or receive monetary or other compensation, including but not limited to gift cards and codes."

Bunch of apps started doing the above "enable tracking" part already - good thing Apple specifically disallowed it, should nip that problem before 14 comes out.

Re: Apple: Apps should not require users to opt into tracking to access content

#25
I do not think Apple should have the power to do such decisions.

I do not like tracking at all.

But I think this is something which needs to be handled by governments (laws/regulations) not by apple forcing their opinion about what is right onto everyone else by abusing their marked positions.

In this case it might be beneficial for the users.

In others cases it was not beneficial for the users at all but only for apple. Like if I remember correctly apps where not allowed to state that they are Pebble compatible because Pebble did compete with the Apple Watch at least theoretically, similar platforms like Netflix/Amazon Prime got special terms wrt. the pay cut but a Netflix/Amazon Prime for gaming wasn't allowed at all for dubious reasons (with that reasons any content gateway like browsers, newsfeeds, Netflix etc. would not be allowed) oh and guess what it seems Apple is currently working on their own Gaming/Game Streaming platform...

So yes anti tracking is good. But I still belive Apple is again abusing their monopoly like positions for their own benefits, let's not forget Apple has their own app network which likely isn't affected by this.

Re: Apple: Apps should not require users to opt into tracking to access content

#26

I do not think Apple should have the power to do such decisions. I do not like tracking at all. But I think this is something which needs to be handled by governments (laws/regulations) not by apple forcing their opinion about what is right onto everyone else by abusing their marked positions. In this case it might be beneficial for the users. In others cases it was not beneficial for the users at all but only for ap…

Governments ought to be the place for this level of regulation, absolutely - But right now, governments aren't regulating.

In the mean time, I'm glad Apple is. If Apple wasn't doing this, no one would be.

Re: Apple: Apps should not require users to opt into tracking to access content

#27
post #23
post #10

Such things are never going to come to Android are they? Every preinstalled app abuses every permission possible

With a user controlled Android phone, you can just feed apps you don't trust fake location data. But now Google has started restricting user-owned Android to a fixed number of flashes or something, or they get locked out of Google Play Services.

Can't tell if this is a serious reply.

Re: Apple: Apps should not require users to opt into tracking to access content

#28
post #3

Full text of the clause: > 3.2.2 Unacceptable > (vi) Apps should allow a user to get what they’ve paid for without performing additional tasks, such as posting on social media, uploading contacts, checking in to the app a certain number of times, etc. Apps should not require users to rate the app, review the app, watch videos, download other apps, tap on advertisements, enable tracking, or take other similar actions…

But this also excludes letting the user chose between either watching ads or paying for the content.

A not very well working but reasonable business model.

Why is it incompatible?

Because getting access to normally payed-extra-for content by watching apps means receiving a "monetary or other compensation"

Re: Apple: Apps should not require users to opt into tracking to access content

#29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple's guidelines are usually written in soft language to give it wiggle room in case an unexpected scenario arises. Practically-speaking, if Apple decides an app has violated this provision, the app is toast. No app company on the planet has enough lawyers to challenge Apple on such nit-pickery.

This has been my experience, as well. I once had to delete an entire bug fix version, and turn it into a feature version, because I "shouldn't" have done something (can't remember what, exactly -I'd have to go digging through the commit comments to find it, and I don't want to do that).

Apple says bug-fixes will no longer be held up by rule violations.

Re: Apple: Apps should not require users to opt into tracking to access content

#30
post #10

Such things are never going to come to Android are they? Every preinstalled app abuses every permission possible

Pre-installed apps where you can't disable them or revoke their permissions are a cancer on the Android ecosystem. Especially fun when they have permissions like "access the filesystem" or "obtain device location" or "send notifications".

There used to be a security app on my MIUI phone. Security apps can't do anything on android, because each app is sandboxed. But of course, it had full non-revocable permissions including physical sensors, precise location, contacts, camera and microphone.

I hope someone cracks open their 'security' app and controls every MIUI device, just for them to learn their lesson.

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