Apple to change app data consent rules, German regulator says

Apple will change rules governing how app developers can use personal data for ​targeted advertising on iPhones and iPads, Germany's competition ‌authority said, on Monday, closing a years-long investigation.

The Federal Cartel Office found that Apple's App Tracking Transparency framework gave its ​own apps more favourable consent prompts than ​those of third-party developers, potentially breaching competition ⁠rules.

Apple has four months to implement the changes ​after the decision is served. Commitments run for seven ​years and will be monitored by a trustee.

Under the commitments, consent pop-ups for third-party apps must be redesigned to remove ​discouraging language and symbols, and made visually and ​linguistically neutral.

Third-party app publishers will also gain more flexibility to ‌combine ⁠Apple's required consent request with separate data-protection consent prompts.

Apple said the changes would apply in almost all European Union countries and that it had adapted ​the text and ​design of ⁠the consent prompt at the authority's request.

Developers of third-party apps, including Facebook parent ​Meta Platforms, aim for accurate user ​data ⁠so that targeted adverts can be displayed on devices. These generate more revenue than broader campaigns.

France and Italy ⁠have ​already fined Apple €150 million and €98.6 ​million, respectively, over the ATT framework.

-Reuters