Next Apple iOS update will tell you which apps want to share your data - how it works

By Claire Schofield
Published 28th Jan 2021, 12:44 BST
Updated 28th Jan 2021, 21:59 BST
App developers will need to ask for permission to share user’s data to third parties (Photo: Shutterstock)App developers will need to ask for permission to share user’s data to third parties (Photo: Shutterstock)
App developers will need to ask for permission to share user’s data to third parties (Photo: Shutterstock)

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Apple has announced further details about its hotly-anticipated privacy changes in its next iOS update.

The changes will mean app developers will need to ask for permission to share user’s data to third parties, allowing people to better control their privacy.

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Privacy changes

In June last year, the company announced that app developers would have to ask users for permission to track and share their Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) for cross-property ad targeting purposes.

Despite the launch of iOS 14 in autumn, Apple delayed the tracking restrictions until 2021 to allow developers more time to make the necessary changes.

The plan is to launch these changes in early spring, with a version of the feature coming in the next iOS 14 beta release.

Apple said: “Under Settings, users will be able to see which apps have requested permission to track, and make changes as they see fit.

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“This requirement will roll out broadly in early spring with an upcoming release of iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and tvOS1 14, and has already garnered support from privacy advocates around the world.”

How does the feature work?

The App Tracking Transparency feature moves from the old method which meant users had to opt-out of sharing your IDFA to an opt-in model.

This means that every app will have to ask you up front whether it is okay to share your IDFA with third parties including networks or data brokers.

User’s can also toggle IDFA sharing on a by-app basis at any time, where previously it was a single toggle. Turning off the ‘allow apps to request to track’ setting completely will mean no apps will be able to ask you to use tracking.