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> Even when consumers follow Apple's own instructions and turn off "Allow Apps to Request to Track" and/or "Share [Device] Analytics" on their privacy controls
by ezfe 4y ago
> Even when consumers follow Apple's own instructions and turn off "Allow Apps to Request to Track" and/or "Share [Device] Analytics" on their privacy controls
Reading the description in Settings for both of these switches, we learn the following:
1. Allow Apps to Request to Track specifically "Allow[s] apps to ask to track your activity across other companies' apps and websites." This clause clearly doesn't apply to any internal analytics process.
2. Share [Device] Analytics is a bigger issue, and is the problem. The switch says that it sends information about how the user uses the operating system and Apple services. That clearly includes the App Store, so switching this off should switch off App Store analytics.
Including the first point seems stupid, since it muddies the claim against Apple.
A note about the App Store privacy information. It (separately) indicates that they collect the information this article alleges - so Apple IS disclosing it. However that doesn't change the fact that the Analytics toggle reasonably seems to apply to the App Store as well.
- helsinkiandrew 4y ago> Share [Device] Analytics is a bigger issue, and is the problem Personally, I've always assumed that Device analytics (which I always turn off) referred to iOS, device and network performance, what apps are launched and crash etc. and that it didn't cover in app usage analytics. The description is a little vague: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/device-analytics/ https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/device-analytics... But the App Store privacy notes still state they record usage so they can personalise ads (which are optional) and show trending apps and searches etc (I think not optional)
- dkonofalski 4y agoI don't think I agree with your assessment of this for the following reasons: 1. Nothing here is being tracked "across other companies apps and websites", unless there's something here that shows Apple is cross-pollinating their data internally (which is possible but I don't see any evidence for here). 2. I disagree that this includes "App Store" app. The description given when you click the "About Analytics & Privacy" link explicitly states what the differentiation is and, to me, that does not include the App Store app.
- ezfe 4y agoOn the first point, we agree. On the second point, the App Store is an OS-level Apple Service, two things that the Analytics purports to provide.
- dkonofalski 4y agoConsidering that you can remove the App Store app from your home screen, I don't think it would classified as an OS-level service.
- ezfe 4y agoYou can hide it, but it cannot be deleted. It will always appear in the App Library.
- dkonofalski 4y agoI was about to respond with "Of course, how would you download apps otherwise?" but I'm pretty sure that's your point so you may be right here...