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Apple will require applications to add privacy 'nutrition labels' beginning on December 8th.
Apple debuted a series of privacy features when it unveiled iOS 14, but the company's "protein sticker" idea did not come with the introduction of the new operating system in September. Apple today confirmed that developers would be forced to include details on these "labels" beginning on 8 December.
Like a standard diet label that lists additives and nutritional content, these privacy labels should give you a better understanding of what's going on inside the app before you buy it from the iOS App Store or the Mac App Store. The labels will list what details the app gathers and display it visually on the app tab, almost like looking at the backs of the labels in the grocery store.
The catch, of course, is that whilst developers are forced to publish this information in order to continue launching and upgrading applications, all of the information provided by developers would be self-reported, which may also leave some room for foul play.
Apple's Developer Platform cautions that developers would be expected to report any details they and their third party suppliers gather to keep their "labels" up to date. For eg, if an app wants to know your exact place to function, you'll know it before you even download it. If the GPS feature is stripped from the app, a new mark would have to reflect that. Apple does offer some exceptions where these sticker disclosures are voluntary, but the important thing to note is that if an app tries to watch you regularly, you'll know about it before it's on your phone.
Providing this detail is an easier-to-digest way to keep customers updated of just how their phone is being used to track them. Apple is still actively handling permissions within applications, but these marks may be an even earlier line of protection. Developers should start uploading details about their apps by the deadline of 8 December.
