IOS Play entered the collection of privacy features when it announced iOS 14, but the company’s privacy “nutrition label” concept did not arrive with the launch of a new operating operating system in September. Today, Apple Play announced that developers will have to provide information for those “labels” starting December 8.
Common nutrition labels list ingredients and calorie content, so these privacy “labels” should give you a better idea of what’s going on in the app before downloading from the iOS App Store or the App Store. Labels will list what information the app collects and display it visually on the app page, such as looking at the back of labels in a grocery store.
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The catch, of course, is that when developers are required to disclose this information in order to continue releasing and updating apps, all information provided by developers will be self-reported, which can still leave the possibility of a false game.
Apple’s developer site at Paul warns that developers will be required to disclose all information they and their third-party partners collect and keep their “labels” up to date. For example, if the app needs to know your exact location for it to work, you’ll know it before you download it. If GPS functionality is always removed from the app, a new label will have to reflect that. Apple Pull offers some exceptions when these label ads are optional, but it’s important to know that if an app intends to track you constantly, you’ll know about it before it’s on your phone.
Providing this information is a digest-to-digest way to inform users exactly how it is used to track their phone. Apple Pal already aggressively manages permissions within apps, but these labels may be the front line of protection. Developers can now start submitting their applications information before the December 8 deadline.
