Apple's new 'App Tracking Transparency' feature allows users
to block advertisers from tracking them across different applications.
The US tech giant says it defends data privacy rights, but
it faces criticism from Facebook, app developers and startups whose business
models rely on advertising tracking.
French groups IAB France, MMAF, SRI and UDECAM complained to
the French watchdog last year, saying the feature would not affect Apple's
ability to send targeted ads to users of its own iOS software without seeking
their prior consent.
The head of the watchdog, Isabelle de Silva, said she had
worked closely with France's CNIL data privacy regulator in deciding to reject
the request to suspend the feature.
She said CNIL estimated the pop-up box put in place by Apple
could benefit users in an ever-more complex online advertising environment, and
was presented in clear and unbiased way.
But de Silva said she was investigating whether Apple
favours its own services and products, with a decision expected by early next
year at the latest.
"Companies are free to set their own rules and this
flexibility also exists for dominant players and structuring platforms,"
she told a news conference.
"However, they must be vigilant in the way they set
their rules. We are very careful that these rules are not anti-competitive and
do not impose unfair conditions."
Apple said it welcomed the watchdog's decision that the 'App
Tracking Transparency' feature was in the best interests of French customers.
The complainants said they were disappointed by that
decision, but welcomed the probe into Apple's conduct.
They have alleged Apple's behaviour constitutes an abuse of
its dominant position, because developers have to agree to Apple's terms to see
their apps appear on the company's App Store and become available to iPhone
users.
Two-thirds of the time French people spent online in 2020
was on smartphones, according to researchers Mediametrie.
Facebook's executives told investors earlier this year that
Apple's new feature could start hurting the social network's revenue in the
first quarter, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg accusing Apple of having "every
incentive to use their dominant platform position to interfere with how our
apps and other apps work."
0 comments:
Post a Comment