With the release of iOS 14.5 and its App Tracking Transparency feature, many companies that have ad-based businesses are concerned that Apple's privacy policies now allow users to choose whether or not to be tracked by third-party apps. Last week, Alibaba Group called in some marketing executives to discuss what to do about the changes introduced with iOS 14.5.
See also: Bugs Appeared in Apple's Tracking Transparency App
The Chinese conglomerate owns one of the world's largest e-commerce companies and also has a hugely popular online advertising platform in China. The privacy changes introduced in iOS 14.5have, of course, not pleased the company.
According to The Information, six marketing executives went to Alibaba’s Hangzhou headquarters to discuss how the company can protect its revenue after the introduction of App Tracking Transparency on iOS. However, it seems that the company has not yet finalized its strategy – regarding how to deal with Apple’s new privacy policy
See also: Germany: Lawsuit against Apple over App Tracking Transparency
China is one of Apple's biggest markets, with more than 300 million active iPhones in the country. Apple's restrictions on how developers handle user data will have a direct impact on companies like Alibaba, which gets 40% of its revenue from advertising.
Earlier this year, it was reported that some Chinese companies were working on new ways to bypass iOS's privacy system to continue tracking users even when they choose not to be tracked. Apple later said that the App Tracking Transparency feature is mandatory in all regions of the world and that apps that don't follow the rules will be removed from the App Store.
See also: Apple: Already rejecting apps that defy App Tracking Transparency feature
Alibaba isn't the only giant company worried about ad revenue. A leaked Facebook memo on Wednesday revealed that the company expects advertisers' revenue (and therefore its own) to be impacted as iPhone and iPad users update to iOS 14.5.
Information source: 9to5mac.com
