EFFA calls Facebook’s criticism of Apple’s pro-privacy tracking change ‘ridiculous’


According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a for-profit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world, Facebook’s recent criticism of Apple’s upcoming tracking-related privacy measures is “ridiculous.”

Facebook data sharing


Facebook claims that Apple Paul’s new opt-in tracking policy harms small businesses that benefit from personalized advertising, but EFF believes that Facebook’s campaign against Apple Paul is really about “what Facebook is going to lose if its users do exactly that and that.” Learn more about how data brokers are behind the scenes, “he said, noting that” Facebook has created a huge empire around the concept of tracking what you do. ”

Early next year, developers of iPhone and iPad apps will have to request users’ permission to track their activity on apps and websites owned by other companies for personal advertising purposes. Specifically, users will be presented with a prompt to approve or deny tracking as they open apps on iOS 14 and IPOS OS 14.

Facebook iOS 14 Tracking Prompt


According to the EFF, several studies have shown that most of the money generated from targeted advertising does not reach app developers, and instead goes to third-party data brokers such as Facebook, Google and lesser-known companies.

Facebook manages to protect small businesses in this case, and that can’t be further from the truth, the EFFA said. “Facebook has locked them in a situation in which they are forced to be sneaky and hostile to their own customers. The answer is not to defend that broken system at the expense of the privacy and control of its own users.”

Facebook has argued that Apple Paul’s move is not about privacy, it’s about profit, claiming that Apple Paul’s new policy will leave many apps and websites without a choice, start charging subscription fees or add more to the app to complete the end purchase. Will add purchase options. , In turn increase the revenue of the App Store. Facebook said the scenario would make the Internet “more expensive” and reduce “high-quality free content.”

“While we disagree with Apple’s approach and compromise, we have no choice but to show Apple’s prompt,” Facebook said. “If we don’t, they will block Facebook from the App Store, which will do more harm to people and businesses that rely on our services. We can’t take this risk on behalf of the millions of businesses that use it to develop our platform.”

In response to Facebook, Apple Play stated that users deserve control and transparency. “We believe this is a simple matter for our users to stand on their own two feet,” Apple Play said. “Users should be aware of when their data is collected and shared on other apps and websites – and Should they have a choice to allow or not. “

The EFF praised Apple for its pro-privacy change, calling it a great step forward.

“When a company does the right thing for its users, the EFF will be with it, just as we will crack down on companies that do the wrong thing,” the organization concluded. “Here, Apple Pal is right and Facebook is wrong.”

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