iOS 14.3 Introduces App Privacy Labels in App Store

The iOS 14.3, iPadOS 14.3, and macOS Big Sur 11.1 updates that are live as of today introduce a new App Privacy labeling feature for the App Store and macOS ‌App Store‌, giving customers a way to determine what data an app collects about them before choosing to install it.

appstoreprivacy
Apple first introduced these labels at WWDC, and has given developers until now to prepare for them. Developers need to self-report details on the information that they collect to Apple, and Apple has now made this a requirement. You should begin seeing ‌App Store‌ labels starting today, though it may take some time for the feature to roll out.

Developers who skirt the rules and don't provide information on the data they use can see their apps removed from the ‌App Store‌. Developers must identify all data collection and use cases and must keep the information in the ‌App Store‌ up to date.

app store privacy label iphone
Privacy labels are required for all apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch, and will include three sections covering data that's used to track you, data linked to you, and data not linked to you, which is anonymized.

Data used to track you refers to data that links user or device data from an app with user or device data acquired from other apps, websites, or advertising profiles. This section also lets you know if an app shares device or user data with companies that sell data.

Data linked to you includes information like name, age, gender, and more, which is usually provided when creating an account. Data not linked to you references things like diagnostic data that does not have personal information.

Apple is also providing the same privacy information for its own built-in apps, with the details available on the web rather than in the ‌App Store‌ for apps that don't have dedicated ‌App Store‌ pages.

This includes the ‌App Store‌ app, Camera, Clock, Health, Messages, Phone, Photos, and Safari. Privacy info for these apps can be found in links located in Apple's privacy support document.

In an interview with Fast Company, Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi spoke about the new privacy labels that are available in the ‌App Store‌. He said that privacy labels are just the "start of something really ambitious," with Apple planning to refine and iterate on the feature over time.

Apple created privacy labels in an effort to help users better understand how their data is used, and he believes users will appreciate the feature when deciding which apps to download. Federighi said that he hopes Apple's competitors will copy the feature for their own app stores.

The work we're doing here we view in the context of providing leadership to the industry, raising users' expectations of what they should expect and demand in privacy. And we absolutely expect that others in the industry will respond to the heightened expectations and demands of customers and improve privacy--and we think that's great.

This is one category where if they want to copy some of our best ideas toward improving user privacy--we embrace that.

Along with the launch of privacy labels, Apple today updated its dedicated privacy website to outline the privacy features in iOS 14. Apple's privacy policy has also been updated with easier to read sections such as Your Privacy Rights at Apple and Personal Data Apple Collects from You.

Related Forums: iOS 14, macOS Big Sur

Popular Stories

Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Battery Capacity and Weight Allegedly Revealed

Monday May 19, 2025 2:22 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air later this year, and while there have been plenty of rumors about the camera's overall design and thinness, we haven't heard any details about the device's weight and battery capacity until now. According to the leaker going by the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean-langauge Naver blog, the 6.6-inch iPhone 17 Air has a weight ...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:07 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation ...
WWDC 2025 Banner

Apple Announces WWDC 2025 Schedule, Including Keynote Time

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced a more detailed schedule for its annual developers conference WWDC, which runs from June 9 through June 13. The schedule confirms that Apple's keynote will begin on Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, with a live stream to be available on Apple.com, in the Apple TV app, and on YouTube. During the keynote, Apple is expected to announce iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16,...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Apple Says These Vehicle Brands Plan to Offer All-New CarPlay Ultra

Thursday May 15, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, customizable widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can also adjust...
Apple Intelligence General Feature

Report: Apple's Next-Gen Version of Siri Is 'On Par' With ChatGPT

Monday May 19, 2025 9:00 am PDT by
Apple has big plans to improve Siri over the next few years, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett report. Some Apple executives are now reportedly pushing to turn Siri into a true ChatGPT competitor. A next-generation, chatbot version of Siri has reportedly made significant progress during testing over the past six months; some executives allegedly now see it as "on par" with recent...
iOS 18 Siri Personal Context

Apple Will Reportedly Be More Cautious About Announcing New Features Well in Advance

Sunday May 18, 2025 2:50 pm PDT by
Apple plans to mostly stop announcing new features more than a few months before they are ready to launch, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett. The pair of reporters revealed this noteworthy tidbit towards the bottom of a lengthy report about Apple's artificial intelligence shortcomings today. This alleged change in strategy comes after Apple was forced to delay its more...

Top Rated Comments

Perry Barhydt Avatar
58 months ago
privacy is important. Glad to see work being done for that.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VermontsFinest Avatar
58 months ago
I can hear Zuckerberg crying from here.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
58 months ago


[HEADING=1]PRIVACY! Number 1 feature in this world. Good work.[/HEADING]
Exactly! This is why I picked an iPhone over Android.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ryanmp Avatar
58 months ago

I can hear Zuckerberg crying from here.
Yup, he has quite a bit to cry about right now. His little empire is under attack.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DinkThifferent Avatar
58 months ago

I can hear Zuckerberg crying from here.
I didn’t know robots could cry! Gee, they can make these robots more and more lifelike nowadays!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
58 months ago
[HEADING=1]PRIVACY! Number 1 feature in this world. Good work.[/HEADING]
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)