Apple says it will ban and reject apps in the App Storethat try to offer users financial incentives to convince them to allow apps to track their activity, something that is now difficult due to the App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature.
See also: Bugs Appeared in Apple's Tracking Transparency App
Apple released iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, which, among other things, bring ATT to enhance user privacy. ATT is a new framework on iOS and iPadOS devices that requires apps to ask users for permission before tracking them for advertising purposes.
From now on, all apps in the App Store will have to present users with a pop-up window asking them whether they want to be tracked or not. The window displays the phrases: “Ask the app not to track” and “Allow”.
See also: Germany: Lawsuit against Apple over App Tracking Transparency
Following the release of the ATT, Apple also updated Human Interface Guidelines , adding a new section titled “Accessing User Data.” In this section, Apple explains in detail the design policies that all apps must follow when they want to ask a user for permission to access personal data and device capabilities like the microphone and camera.
It's clear that Apple is trying to be strict with its rules so that all apps that make it to the App Store follow the new privacy guidelines.
See also: Tim Cook: Apple is not against digital advertising, it's just enhancing user privacy
However, some apps will try to circumvent ATT with tricks like impersonating or limiting an app's functionality until permission to track is granted. For this reason, Apple will ban apps that attempt to mislead users.
More specifically, Apple referred to apps that will attempt to offer financial incentives to users to convince them to allow tracking and said they will be banned from the App Store.
“Don't offer incentives for granting the request. You may not offer users compensation for granting their permission, and you may not prevent proper functionality or content or render your app unusable until users allow you to track them.
Do not display an image of the standard notification or modify it in any way.
Don't design a visual cue that draws people's attention to the notification's Allowbutton.
Apple also outlines what is and isn't allowed when apps try to explain why users need to allow tracking. The ATT pop-up gives developers the option to customize the text to explain why tracking is required, but Apple has set some conditions.
Apps can use a splash screen before the pop-up window appears, explaining why the tracking is needed. These splash screens, however, must use words like “ Continue ,” “ Next, ” and not “Allow ,” which can be misleading and confusing to users.
The new section Apple has added is useful for developers who want to make sure they're following Apple's latest guidelines, as well as for regular users who want to learn more about how the App Tracking Transparency feature works.
Source: MacRumors
