Apple warns Chinese app developers trying to track users unauthorized

In Apple iOS 14.5 and later, the App Tracking Transparency (ATT) rule will be introduced that requires user permission to track users across other websites or applications. However, there are reports that Apple is warning because Chinese high-tech companies are trying to solve the problem.

Reportedly, Apple has sent warnings to at least two developers using a way to track application usage without user permission. This would force the developer to choose to update the application to comply with the App Store rules within 14 days, or otherwise risk being removed from the App Store, saying that he knew the app was collecting information to generate a unique identifier for the user’s device. have.

ATT, which is promoted by Apple, mainly seeks to implement a structure in which a pop-up asking whether it is OK to track each application when acquiring a unique device identifier called IFDA, and rejecting it, can opt out. The Chinese developer tried to use a different identifier for this IFDA.

In addition, the app developer in question was said to be using a tool called CAID created by the state-run China Advertising Association. The China Advertising Association has expressed opposition to this Apple’s privacy policy, but it seems to go against Apple’s warning.

In addition, in the Chinese marketing industry, it is said that both large Chinese companies and SMEs are reviewing CAIDs. Some Chinese high-tech companies, such as Baidu and Tencent, are already testing or implementing CAID for user tracking.

Among them, Bytedance recommends that developers use identifiers according to CAIDD1 or CAID2, i.e. user IP address and phone IMEI, but all are said to be violating Apple rules without requesting user permission before data collection.

What makes this problem difficult is that the China Advertising Association, which provides CAIDs, is a state-owned company, so the Chinese government is behind it. Reportedly, Apple will take strong action if it violates the rules, but some say that China may be an exception. Apple is strongly demanding that Facebook comply with the ATT, but will the Chinese government take the same response? Not so long ago, for iPhones sold in Russia, the government approved the introduction of an app recommended by the government, so it may be forced to compromise in China as well. Related information can be found here.