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iOS 13 & watchOS 6 Now Available
App Developers Claim Apple's iOS 13 Location Tracking Changes Are Anti-Competitive
Apple in iOS 13 made changes to the way location tracking permissions work, and there's no longer an option for apps to ask to "Always Allow" location tracking.
Instead, Apple allows users to select "Allow While Using the App," "Allow Once," or "Don't Allow," which some app creators have taken offense to. The leaders of seven companies that make apps for iOS devices banded together to write an email to Apple CEO Tim Cook to speak out about the changes, with the details shared by The Information.
There's no longer an "Always Allow" option on privacy popups in iOS 13 for enabling permanent location access
The companies that wrote to Cook are upset that there's no longer a readily available "Always Allow" option. Users can still turn on "Always Allow" in the Privacy section of the Settings app, but it's not available by default and requires additional steps.
As an example, Zenly, a location tracking app owned by Snap, needs to have location tracking on permanently to function. Since there's no option to turn on "Always Allow," Zenly has to have a clunky secondary display screen that instructs users to open up the Privacy settings on their iPhones to change the location setting. This makes consumers more aware of apps that are tracking them continually, but it is an extra step that app developers must contend with.
Apps that want continual location data must instruct customers to enable it in the Settings app
According to the companies who wrote to Cook, the changes could potentially lead users to think their apps are broken unless they're "savvy enough" tweak Privacy settings. These are the companies whose leaders wrote to Cook about the privacy changes:
The companies were also concerned about changes Apple is making to a VoIP feature designed to let apps run in the background to listen for calls, but that was being abused for other tracking purposes. Apple doesn't plan to let developers use Apple's PushKit API for anything beyond voice calls in iOS 13.
While the companies admit that apps used this feature for tracking user location and for gathering data, they claim the change will hurt important app features. As an example, Life360 reportedly uses the feature to access a user's location to dispatch emergency services when a customer is involved in a car accident.
The email ends by pointing out that Apple's own apps do not need to get user permission to access user location, such as for Find My, which is built into the iPhone as a way to keep track of iOS and macOS devices.
Apple also says that while system apps like Find My don't need to make location tracking requests from users, some Apple apps distributed through the App Store will abide by Apple's processes for requesting user permission to access location information. The full report with additional details can be read over at The Information.
Instead, Apple allows users to select "Allow While Using the App," "Allow Once," or "Don't Allow," which some app creators have taken offense to. The leaders of seven companies that make apps for iOS devices banded together to write an email to Apple CEO Tim Cook to speak out about the changes, with the details shared by The Information.
The companies that wrote to Cook are upset that there's no longer a readily available "Always Allow" option. Users can still turn on "Always Allow" in the Privacy section of the Settings app, but it's not available by default and requires additional steps.
As an example, Zenly, a location tracking app owned by Snap, needs to have location tracking on permanently to function. Since there's no option to turn on "Always Allow," Zenly has to have a clunky secondary display screen that instructs users to open up the Privacy settings on their iPhones to change the location setting. This makes consumers more aware of apps that are tracking them continually, but it is an extra step that app developers must contend with.
According to the companies who wrote to Cook, the changes could potentially lead users to think their apps are broken unless they're "savvy enough" tweak Privacy settings. These are the companies whose leaders wrote to Cook about the privacy changes:
- Tile - Makes tracking devices for wallets, keys, and other objects.
- Arity - A company owned by Allstate that developers technology for measuring driver risk.
- Life360 - An app for sharing location with family and friends.
- Zenly - A location sharing app owned by Snap.
- Zendrive - A company that makes driver assessment apps.
- Twenty - A social networking app for finding friends nearby.
- Happn - A dating app.
The companies were also concerned about changes Apple is making to a VoIP feature designed to let apps run in the background to listen for calls, but that was being abused for other tracking purposes. Apple doesn't plan to let developers use Apple's PushKit API for anything beyond voice calls in iOS 13.
While the companies admit that apps used this feature for tracking user location and for gathering data, they claim the change will hurt important app features. As an example, Life360 reportedly uses the feature to access a user's location to dispatch emergency services when a customer is involved in a car accident.
The email ends by pointing out that Apple's own apps do not need to get user permission to access user location, such as for Find My, which is built into the iPhone as a way to keep track of iOS and macOS devices.
"Like you, we are committed to ensuring that privacy is a top priority, but are concerned that the current implementation will create user confusion that actually undermines this goal," the e-mail to Cook reads. "The changes also have the added effect of removing critical geolocation functionality while simultaneously not applying to Apple's own apps, some of which compete with the products we develop."In response to questions about the email, an Apple spokesperson told The Information that Apple's goal is to make the App Store a safe, trusted source for apps and to give its users the best products and ecosystem in the world.
We take responsibility for ensuring that apps are held to a high standard for privacy, security and content because nothing is more important than maintaining the trust of our users. Users trust Apple--and that trust is critical to how we operate a fair, competitive store for developer app distribution. Any changes we make to hardware, software or system level apps is in service to the user, their privacy and providing them the best products and ecosystem in the world.In addition, Apple said that it is working with some of the companies that signed the email to find alternative methods for features that are being obsoleted, such as background tracking for purposes other than voice calls.
Apple also says that while system apps like Find My don't need to make location tracking requests from users, some Apple apps distributed through the App Store will abide by Apple's processes for requesting user permission to access location information. The full report with additional details can be read over at The Information.
Tag: App Store
[ 274 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
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5 weeks ago
Im sorry, but **** your surreptitious perpetual tracking via the always allow button. I applaud this change
5 weeks ago
Developers whining about Apple making it more difficult to allow background tracking?
Sounds like Apple is doing something right here.
Sounds like Apple is doing something right here.
5 weeks ago
Being on a privacy kick lately, I am very happy with all the changes Apple is making. There are very very few apps I want tracking me 24/7.
5 weeks ago
This change is good for consumers. App developers have proven they cannot be trusted.
These apps probably have legit uses. But Apple didn’t ruin it for them. Abusive developers did. If everyone played nice then this wouldn’t have happened.
You can opt in if you really want it.
These apps probably have legit uses. But Apple didn’t ruin it for them. Abusive developers did. If everyone played nice then this wouldn’t have happened.
You can opt in if you really want it.
5 weeks ago
Booo hooo cry me an ***** river, they won't be able to track us 24/7, nor dupe their users into said continuous tracking!
F them, and TWO THUMBS UP to Apple for this change!!!
If I wanna give an app this ability, such as for navigation apps, then I am capable going into Settings and doing it myself!
F them, and TWO THUMBS UP to Apple for this change!!!
If I wanna give an app this ability, such as for navigation apps, then I am capable going into Settings and doing it myself!
5 weeks ago
I understand what app developers are getting at here, but honestly, users who aren't savvy enough to go into the Privacy settings and change the option to "Always Allow" when necessary are the exact people who probably shouldn't be continually tracked by an app.
5 weeks ago
By the way, the article is actually incorrect. The user is not required to use manually intervene in order to explicitly grant the “Always Allow” privilege... by design, they would be asked again at a later point. Because of this, it would be a violation of the Guidelines to ask the user to open the Settings app and forcibly grant the “Always Allow” privilege.
These complaining developers are aware of this fact, but they are being disingenuous, because they don’t like the way Apple is doing this.
Apple's intent is that the act of granting the “Always Allow” privilege should be a separate decision, and should also be as non-intrusive as possible to the user. From a development standpoint, it works like this (detailed in this WWDC 2019 video ('https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2019-705/?time=181')):
[LIST=1]
* As a developer, in your code, you should request “Always Allow” as you normally would.
* The user will see the new prompt which does not have the “Always Allow” option.
* If they grant “Allow While In Use” privileges, your app will actually be granted “provisional authorization” for the “Always Allow” privilege.
* The developer should now simply proceed to do the things for which they need that permission for: e.g., set up some geofences, and start monitoring for notifications, whatever.
* If the developer has coded their app according to the guidelines, at some point later, when an location-based event is triggered, the user will be prompted again— and this time, they’ll have the option to grant the “Allow Always” privilege, at which point the provisional authorization will be made permanent.
These complaining developers are aware of this fact, but they are being disingenuous, because they don’t like the way Apple is doing this.
Apple's intent is that the act of granting the “Always Allow” privilege should be a separate decision, and should also be as non-intrusive as possible to the user. From a development standpoint, it works like this (detailed in this WWDC 2019 video ('https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2019-705/?time=181')):
[LIST=1]
* As a developer, in your code, you should request “Always Allow” as you normally would.
* The user will see the new prompt which does not have the “Always Allow” option.
* If they grant “Allow While In Use” privileges, your app will actually be granted “provisional authorization” for the “Always Allow” privilege.
* The developer should now simply proceed to do the things for which they need that permission for: e.g., set up some geofences, and start monitoring for notifications, whatever.
* If the developer has coded their app according to the guidelines, at some point later, when an location-based event is triggered, the user will be prompted again— and this time, they’ll have the option to grant the “Allow Always” privilege, at which point the provisional authorization will be made permanent.
5 weeks ago
Too bad. Don't like it? Take your app off the App Store.
Oh, you don't want to? See my first statement.
Oh, you don't want to? See my first statement.
5 weeks ago
Because of the developers' constant privacy abuses, I've reached a point where I don't trust most of the apps.
With smartphones being so ubiquitous, we're turning into the Borg collective where everyone is connected into the hive.
With smartphones being so ubiquitous, we're turning into the Borg collective where everyone is connected into the hive.
5 weeks ago
Of course these companies cry foul. They are after personal data above all. I hope Apple stands firm and goes even further by default. It should be up to these companies to demonstrate such value in their products that users see clear benefit in granting them access. Even then there should be legal protections for user data. Personally, I would go much further than GPDR.
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