14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has quietly rolled out a new privacy feature on iOS 14, with users now being warned that a specific app could track them across other apps and websites.
The feature was originally announced earlier this year, but it came without an ETA, and now it looks like Apple has quietly started the rollout to devices across the world.
A report from MacRumors indicates the warning first showed up on iOS 14.4, but oddly enough, I actually got the same message on iOS 14.3 earlier today.
The notification seeks permissions from the user to “Allow [app name] to track your activity across other companies’ apps and website.” Furthermore, it states that “your data will be used to provide you a better and personalized ad experience.”
Possibly going live to all users next month
Apple announced the new feature in the fall when the company officially introduced iOS 14.
“All apps will now be required to obtain user permission before tracking. Later this year, App Store product pages will feature summaries of developers’ self-reported privacy practices, displayed in a simple, easy-to-understand format. In addition, users can upgrade existing accounts to Sign in with Apple, choose to share their approximate location with app developers rather than their precise location when granting an app location access, and get even more transparency into an app’s use of the microphone and camera,” the company says.
At this point, it looks like the feature is only available for a limited number of users, and it’s believed iOS 14.4, which is due in January, could be the one rolling out the new capabilities to everyone out there.
Of course, Apple has remained completely tight-lipped on the ETA of this feature, so it remains to be seen when it’ll actually become broadly available to everyone with an iPhone.