Apple would limit third-party tracking in kids apps



[ad_1]

If Apple has taken steps to limit the tracking of advertising for its applications, the process is not foolproof. This can be particularly troubling for children, who are more vulnerable to advertising and more likely to voluntarily provide sensitive information. According to an article the the Wall Street newspaper, Apple plans to announce new limitations on third-party tracking for children's apps, and the obvious opportunity for that is at Monday's 2019 Global Developers Conference (WWDC).

Ad tracking is the process by which third-party companies (app sellers or associated distributors) collect and share information about your browsing habits, phone, and so on. This information can be used to specifically target your interests. For example, if you recently searched for bird-related sites, you can start seeing ads for binoculars. according to The Wall Street JournalJoanna Stern, an iOS children's app called Curious World, sent information about her son's name, age, and books to Facebook. And while the company claimed it was a problem, she and a colleague found trackers in 79 of 80 iPhone apps.

A number of recent reports have reported on the amount of data actually transferred from iPhone to third parties. Geoffrey Fowler at the Washington Post discovered that his apps sent data to marketing companies – including his phone number and exact location – at night, while they were supposed to be dormant. In April, Apple sowed consternation among parents by banning applications that help parents monitor what their kids can do over the phone.

It may be time for Apple to pay attention to its claims that "confidentiality is important." You can do something right now to protect your privacy, at least to some degree. Check out our article on how to block ad tracking your iPhone.)

Apple has not confirmed what its answer would be. We will let you know if we have news of the company. Otherwise, we will know more during Monday's speech at WWDC.

[ad_2]

Source link