Apple Ups The Ante On Privacy

TidBITS Talk
#1

In addition to the web based anti tracking IDFA, Apple has initiated a new App Tracking Transparency requirement that will block and remove apps that track from the App Store that do not include a clear explanation about how the tracking will work across different apps, including details about data capture and sharing of information with third parties. It must also give the user the option to decline tracking.

Fortnight, Facebook, etc., etc., etc., are really going to love this:

#2

They are also making it very clear to the public (and, by extension, to Facebook et al) that they are serious about this and companies should not think they’re going to get away with ignoring the rule.

Anything that hurts Facebook’s business model is fine by me. If they went out of business tomorrow, the world would be a better place with a whole lot less disinformation being passed around.

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#3

Facebook is going ballistic about the nutrition labels:

I wish the US vs. Facebook anti trust case had included some focus on harm to consumers, like spreading false information, privacy and tracking.

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#4

Me too, but I don’t think they can. As objectionable as these practices are, they are not illegal. Ultimately, Facebook can do what it wants on the servers it runs and everybody else’s recourse is only the right to not use software running on those servers.

Unfortunately, for many of us, that is easier said than done.

But I believe the alternative (a government agency micro-managing what operators of web services can and can not run on their own servers over their own networks) is even worse.

What we need is some alternative social media services that can compete. There are some, but they’re still small and will need time to become popular. If Facebook tries to strong-arm these services out of business, then that is what antitrust law is designed to protect against.

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#5

I have a simple view:

  1. Don’t get news from Facebook - except for family
  2. Only F/B only for tracking family and friends
  3. And, as my mother told me, don’t put it in writing - if you don’t want the world to know, don’t put it out there

David

#6

Facebook is ganging up with Epic Games, etc.

Here’s what’s really bothering them; since June Facebook had been projecting a 50% loss in annual ad revenue. Now that contracts for next year are rolling in, they are claiming a 60% reduction:

“Ads that disregard personalized targeting generate 60% fewer sales than ads that target consumers, Facebook added, citing its own data. Apple’s new feature at the heart of the issue – App Tracking Transparency – won’t forbid companies like Facebook from collecting targeting data, but will ask them to disclose it and seek user opt-in.”

If you’re interested in seeing something scary, take a look at what Facebook admits about its tracking procedures on its privacy statement. It is a lengthy read:

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#7

Fascinating how this is playing out (including Facebook’s full page ad in certain national newspapers)

(p.s., @MMTalker your Bloomberg links don’t seem to embed - here on TidBITS they say “Are you a robot”, if I visit them, I get " We’ve detected unusual activity from your computer network.
To continue, please click the box below to let us know you’re not a robot. … blah blah blah … please allow cookies and JavaScript"

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#8

Thanks for this. I didn’t get the anti robot message when I pasted the link from Google that took me to the Bloomberg article, but I got it when I clicked from my post. I’ll change the link to one from another source.

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