Apple executives have already made it known in several interviews following the arrival of iOS 14.5 and its new privacy rules: the company is not against advertising in its services and applications, but she wants users to be able to decide if they want to. to follow or not.
However, Apple is going to be very strict when it comes to creating nuances with this decision. As we read in MacRumors, the company will block all apps that offer benefits in exchange for the user allowing tracking data under iOS 14.5. That’s what they say in a new section of their privacy documentation.
Explanations yes, incentives no
In this section, they make it clear that applications can report what they get if they accept data tracking (normally the “a better experience with ads that interest you more“), But cannot offer any additional benefits (such as discounts or cash) in exchange for this tracking. If Apple finds out about these incentives, the app is removed from the App Store.
It will also not be tolerated that the application stops working (partially or totally) if the user chooses to disable tracking.. Everything should work fine with and without tracking, it shouldn’t influence anything at all. And of course, trying to display an image that simulates the iOS crawl request will be interpreted as an attempt to mislead the user and therefore also result in a total crash. And that includes highlighting the Allow button somehow. Everything must be neutral.
In other words, Apple did not leave a single obstacle free for any kind of manipulation. User privacy shouldn’t even be a bargaining chip for incentives in a service. So if you are planning to offer discounts in your app in exchange for your customers having this tracking enabled … your plans have been truncated.
