Neil Hughes
As part of a continued focus on protecting user privacy, Apple is reportedly planning to change a policy on third-party applications and prevent them from finding out what other apps are installed on an iPhone or iPad.
Once the changes are in place, developers will no longer be able to access app download data for advertising purposes, according to Amir Efrati of The Information. Currently, major apps like Facebook and Twitter access this data, and can use it to better target advertisements toward its users.
The change will apparently take effect with iOS 9, which is scheduled to launch for free this fall. The change was formally documented by the company during an app privacy session held at the Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month.
In recent years, Apple has made an effort to convey to consumers that their privacy is of the utmost importance to the company. That stands in contrast to companies like Google and Facebook, which collect user data in order to sell advertisements.
In a letter published last fall, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook made it clear that his company is in the business of selling products, not harvesting consumer data.
"Security and privacy are fundamental to the design of all our hardware, software, and services, including iCloud and new services like Apple Pay," Cook said.
Just last week, the Electronic Frontier Foundation awarded Apple a perfect score in its annual "Who has your back?" report, rating tech companies on their efforts to secure consumer data against government snooping. Apple's five-star rating beat out four stars for Facebook, three for Google, and three for Amazon.
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
15 Comments
Hadn't Twitter just announced their app would be trying to see what else you had on your phone? Good move by Apple, but surprising they hadn't done this already.
Thank you Apple. I can trust you more than my own Government. IOS pays deep attention to user privacy unlike android which acts like prostitute who calls it open and allow any app can do anything on your smartphone and later users finds they are screwed.
[quote name="TheWhiteFalcon" url="/t/186909/apple-expanding-user-privacy-will-prevent-ios-apps-from-seeing-other-installed-apps#post_2739609"]Hadn't Twitter just announced their app would be trying to see what else you had on your phone? [/quote] Yikes!! Very creepy.
Google Android is a cesspool when it comes to this. All the system type apps in the Top 100 (keyboards, launchers, browsers) all read your device to see what you have installed. And then target new apps to you based on that info
It is disgusting
[quote name="Red Oak" url="/t/186909/apple-expanding-user-privacy-will-prevent-ios-apps-from-seeing-other-installed-apps#post_2739629"]Google Android is a cesspool when it comes to this. All the system type apps in the Top 100 (keyboards, launchers, browsers) all read your device to see what you have installed. And then target new apps to you based on that info It is disgusting [/quote] Now you've done it. You mentioned the magic G word. Prepare for the usual suspects to come to its defense.