Apple tipped to clamp down on tracking inside kids apps
More WWDC 2019 announcements?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
WWDC 2019gets underway tomorrow,Apple’s yearly get together for developers and app makers, and we just got another rumor about what’s in store – tighter controls on user tracking inside apps targeted at kids.
According to theWSJ, Apple CEOTim Cookis set to announce more controls over what can and can’t be gathered in terms of user data, as well as pushing for more transparency over the data that gets collected.
The WSJ tested 80 apps highlighted in the iOS App Store, including some apps aimed at children, and found all but one included third-party trackers. There was an average of four trackers per app.
An app aimed at children aged between 2 and 7, Curious World, was found to be sending user names, ages, and data on in-app activity back to Facebook.
Stronger privacy and security
Selling marketing info is of course a key way that developers can make money and fund their apps in the first place – and so Apple is going to have to strike a balance to keep both app users and app developers satisfied.
It’s also worth pointing out that the problem is by no means exclusive to iOS, though Apple’s mobileoperating systemwas the focus of this latest WSJ report.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to make users' data even more secure, we will continue to address the challenges of improving transparency and helping users get stronger privacy and security protections for the data they’ve chosen to share,” Apple told theWSJ.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Look out for some of those challenges to be addressed at theWWDCkeynote on Monday, when we’re also expecting to hear about Apple’s plans tobreak up iTunes.
ViaEngadget
Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you’ll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.
Quordle today – hints and answers for Saturday, November 9 (game #1020)
NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Saturday, November 9 (game #251)
Belkin’s Travel Bag for Vision Pro has pockets and is way cheaper than Apple’s own case
