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Facebook's Nick Clegg says Apple privacy moves are 'commercial land grab'

Ex-UK politician Sir Nick Clegg is head of global affairs at Meta

Sir Nick Clegg has accused Apple of double standards, in claiming it is protecting user privacy while really abusing the power of iOS and its dominant position in the market.

Ex-UK politician Sir Nick Clegg, head of global affairs at Facebook parent company Meta, says Apple's App Tracking Transparancy is about profit, not privacy. Speaking at the Web Summit technology conference in Lisbon, he questioned Apple's motives.

"This is an old-fashioned commercial land grab where they are using their dominant position in one of the leading operating systems to tilt the scales in their favour," said Clegg, according to The Times.

"It's absolutely not some highfalutin', high-minded reason," he continued. "We think this is a flagrant example of double standards."

App Tracking Transparancy is where users are asked if they want to allow an advertiser to track what they browse or read through an app. Developers can present a case to the user of why it's beneficial to do this, but it is the user's choice what they decide.

Apple's move is estimated to have cost social media companies to lose $10 billion in the second half of 2021 so far. Although, separately, Facebook, Twitter, and Google have all reported that the impact of App Tracking Transparency has been modest.



30 Comments

darkpaw 212 comments · 15 Years

Wasn't it a commercial land grab that Facebook et al did in the first place? They pushed adverts onto my screen, whether I wanted them or not, and then they tied them to my browsing habits. Apple's ATT gives ME the ability to tell Facebook to sod off, and I have done so.

TechnoTacno 24 comments · 4 Years

Nick Clegg was the Deputy Prime Minister of the UK, elected on the back of him promising not to increase tuition fees for university students, and then voting FOR an increase once elected. He knows what double standards are as he’s an expert in them. Well placed working for Facebook or whatever they’re called these days. 

tommikele 599 comments · 12 Years

"Ex-UK politician Sir Nick Clegg, head of global affairs at Facebook parent company Meta,"

Is any more 
explanation necessary to establish the complete lack of credibility of the individual uttering his BS?

allatsea 1 comment · 11 Years

Seems Clegg is well suited to the company he now works for. Tell any old lie to cover up what his employers are really up to.