Apple Softens App Store Guidelines Related to Third-Party Ads in Kids Apps and 'Sign in With Apple'

Apple today updated its App Store Review Guidelines with changes to third-party advertising and analytics in kids apps, as well as additional criteria for when apps are required to use Sign in with Apple.

kidsapps

Kids apps

The guidelines now state that, in limited cases, third-party analytics may be permitted in kids apps provided that the services do not collect or transmit any identifiable information about children, such as their name, date of birth, email address, location, or unique device identifier.

Apple says third-party advertising may also be permitted in limited cases, provided that the services have publicly documented practices and policies for kids apps, including human review of ad creatives for age appropriateness.

Apple had previously implied that no third-party ads or analytics would be permitted in kids apps whatsoever, but several developers of kids apps expressed concerns that this would harm their business models, leading Apple to delay the requirements and make the changes announced today.

Moreover, apps in the App Store's Kids category or those that collect, transmit, or have the capability to share personal information from a minor must include a privacy policy and must comply with all applicable children's privacy statutes, such as the U.S.'s Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.

Newly submitted kids apps must follow these guidelines immediately, while existing apps will have until March 3, 2020 to be fully compliant, according to Apple.

"As we got closer to implementation we spent more time with developers, analytics companies and advertising companies," Apple's marketing and App Store chief Phil Schiller told TechCrunch. "Some of them are really forward thinking and have good ideas and are trying to be leaders in this space too."

'Sign in with Apple' criteria

Meanwhile, as previously announced, apps that exclusively use a third-party or social login service such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, Amazon, or WeChat to set up or authenticate a user's primary account within the app must also offer Sign in with Apple as an equivalent option.

signinwithapple
However, Apple has now clarified that Sign in with Apple is not required if:

- Your app exclusively uses your company's own account setup and sign-in systems.
- Your app is an education, enterprise, or business app that requires the user to sign in with an existing education or enterprise account.
- Your app uses a government or industry-backed citizen identification system or electronic ID to authenticate users.
- Your app is a client for a specific third-party service and users are required to sign in to their mail, social media, or other third-party account directly to access their content.

Starting today, new apps submitted to the App Store must follow these guidelines for Sign in with Apple. Existing apps must follow them by April 2020.

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Top Rated Comments

JediStarWars Avatar
76 months ago
So when Apple say "Privacy is really important" they simply mean, "when it suits our business model".

https://gizmodo.com/apple-avoids-saying-privacy-during-iphone-11-event-1838019164

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/01/apples-hypocritical-defense-data-privacy/581680/

https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/28/20836760/apple-apology-siri-audio-recordings-privacy-changes-contractors
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Khedron Avatar
76 months ago
Apple still tracking children then.

Privacy is really important to Tim.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Saipher Avatar
76 months ago
They're the same for privacy, one just charges more while lying about it.
There is a huge difference between data being mined due to bugs/exploits that when found are patched, then it being your business model. I’m pretty sure we all know where Apple and Google falls.

Again, you are welcome to another mobile OS you deem more privacy oriented. Lol good luck with that...
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Saipher Avatar
76 months ago
So when Apple say "Privacy is really important" they simply mean, "when it suits our business model".

https://gizmodo.com/apple-avoids-saying-privacy-during-iphone-11-event-1838019164

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/01/apples-hypocritical-defense-data-privacy/581680/

https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/28/20836760/apple-apology-siri-audio-recordings-privacy-changes-contractors
Apple still tracking children then.

Privacy is really important to Tim.
Hey, you are more than welcome to the alternative, Google’s Android. Lol
:rolleyes:
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GeoStructural Avatar
76 months ago
Apple is no better than any other company in privacy matters. The only reason they do not track you more is because they are not in the business as other companies are (Google, Amazon, etc.). Apple left the ad business a few years ago.

Their privacy speech falls every time they get caught doing what any other company does and apologize for it. They are also no more secure than any other server anywhere.

iCloud relies on Amazon servers. They also collect your Maps usage, just that they ignore the departure and arrival point... which is pretty much the same anyway. You also usually set your Home and Work address... so???

They used to justify Siri's stupidity by the fact that everything stays in the iPhone and Siri didn't learn from you. This was proven to be a lie a few weeks ago.

Go to your settings app and see your "ad profile", I was astonished to see how much Apple collects and knows about me. You are given the option to delete the profile tho, but they will create it again as long as you keep using your phone, which you will.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Khedron Avatar
76 months ago
Hey, you are more than welcome to the alternative, Google’s Android. Lol
:rolleyes:
They're the same for privacy, one just charges more while lying about it.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)