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Apple’s Anti-Tracking Plans for iPhone

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Re: Apple’s Anti-Tracking Plans for iPhone

#3

Post by madeofpalk »

baybal2 wrote: post #2

Why the IDFA was a thing in the first place? What I heard was that at some point of time, Apple had an ambition for own advertising business.

My impression was that IDFA was a concession provided by Apple a while ago when they restricted APIs to the stable device identifiers. The IDFA was an identifier that advertisers could use and could be controlled by the user, which was seen as a privacy improvement on advertisers just using the device serial number.

I could be very much wrong, but this was my understanding.

Re: Apple’s Anti-Tracking Plans for iPhone

#5

Post by zpeti »

I genuine question I don’t know the answer to, what’s better, seeing completely random ads that are questionably relevant, and wasting my attention and time (and meaning specialized small businesses can’t compete, ads are for things like detergent that everyone needs), or seeing ads that I might actually be interested at some point (some cool gadget that actually could be relevant to my life, sold by a specialist small manufacturer).

I don’t know the answer.

But Apple is picking for me, that’s for sure.

Edit: good replies, fair point on the choice, from a personal perspective. We all know though that 90% will opt out or more. Without knowing they are making this very choice.

Re: Apple’s Anti-Tracking Plans for iPhone

#7

Post by user-the-name »

madeofpalk wrote: post #3
baybal2 wrote: post #2

Why the IDFA was a thing in the first place? What I heard was that at some point of time, Apple had an ambition for own advertising business.

My impression was that IDFA was a concession provided by Apple a while ago when they restricted APIs to the stable device identifiers. The IDFA was an identifier that advertisers could use and could be controlled by the user, which was seen as a privacy improvement on advertisers just using the device serial number. I could be very much wrong, but this was my understanding.

That is correct. The IDFA is a compromise to get rid of older, more invasive tracking methods that ad networks used. Apple blocked access to the more sensitive data, and instead provided the IDFA which allows users to opt out, and limits the ability to combine data from different sources.

Making the IDFA opt in is now a second, stronger step towards user privacy.

Re: Apple’s Anti-Tracking Plans for iPhone

#9

Post by vatican_banker »

zpeti wrote: post #5

I genuine question I don’t know the answer to, what’s better, seeing completely random ads that are questionably relevant, and wasting my attention and time (and meaning specialized small businesses can’t compete, ads are for things like detergent that everyone needs), or seeing ads that I might actually be interested at some point (some cool gadget that actually could be relevant to my life, sold by a specialist sma…

from the article:

> Apple [...] will give consumers the option to opt-out of tracking in each app

Apple is giving you the option to choose.

Re: Apple’s Anti-Tracking Plans for iPhone

#10

Post by user-the-name »

zpeti wrote: post #5

I genuine question I don’t know the answer to, what’s better, seeing completely random ads that are questionably relevant, and wasting my attention and time (and meaning specialized small businesses can’t compete, ads are for things like detergent that everyone needs), or seeing ads that I might actually be interested at some point (some cool gadget that actually could be relevant to my life, sold by a specialist sma…

They are literally not picking for you. They are specifically changing from opt-out to opt-in, meaning they are giving you more choice.
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