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Apple Can Still Offer a Key iPhone Privacy Feature in France, Says Judge

A judge in Paris today decided not to suspend Apple's App Tracking Transparency privacy feature in France, according to the French newspaper La Tribune.

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In a statement shared with the publication, Apple said it welcomed the court's decision and will continue to support strong privacy protections for users.

Last year, Apple was fined €150 million by France's competition regulator, after it determined that the company's decision to implement App Tracking Transparency was an abuse of market dominance. Specifically, the regulator said the feature unfairly disadvantaged both third-party app developers and advertisers.

Since the release of iOS 14.5 in April 2021, Apple has required apps to ask for permission before tracking a user's activity across other apps and websites for personalized advertising. If a user selects the "Ask App Not to Track" option, the app is unable to access the device's advertising identifier. The feature enhances user privacy, but some advertisers have complained that it has significantly impacted revenue.

Last year, Apple warned that it may be forced to stop offering App Tracking Transparency in the EU due to regulatory pressures in countries such as France, Italy, Germany, and Poland, and from the overarching European Commission. But, it appears that the feature will live on in France for now following Apple's victory today.

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Top Rated Comments

9 months ago
Protecting a business model that depends on a lack of transparency with consumers about their data is anti-consumer.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9 months ago

European regulators only exist to punish successful American companies because Europeans can’t compete on innovation.
Sometimes does look that way

Attachment Image
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mansplains Avatar
9 months ago

advertisers have complained that it has significantly impacted revenue
Fine by me 👏
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9 months ago

Protecting a business model that depends on a lack of transparency with consumers about their data is anti-consumer.
It is insane how many people think that tracking users across apps and websites is ok. They’ll say, “I don’t want Meta sharing my data” but when Apple has a feature that literally communicates that decision with an App Developer it’s “OH NO, Apple, Meta should be able to get that information whenever they want it!!”
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9 months ago
Sooooo, does Apple get the fine money back?

Or are they being fined for adding the feature AND also being allowed to keep the feature? If it’s the latter that’s some next-level Bizarro World.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9 months ago

European regulators only exist to punish successful American companies because Europeans can’t compete on innovation.
Yes Donald
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)