Apple says that its privacy labels, an anticipated part of iOS 14 that has yet to debut, will also apply to its own apps.
The clarification was made to The Verge after a complaint by the Facebook-owned WhatsApp, which raised concerns about the way the new label system will operate.
Making Sure Its Privacy Labels Are Consistent
"We think labels should be consistent across first and third party apps as well as reflect the strong measures apps may take to protect people’s private information," a WhatsApp spokesperson told Axios. “While providing people with easy to read information is a good start, we believe it’s important people can compare these 'privacy nutrition' labels from apps they download with apps that come pre-installed, like iMessage."
Apple first introduced its development of the privacy labels at this year’s virtual-only Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) event. As outlined in a FAQ on the Apple Developer App Store, it requires that---starting December 8, 2020---developers must submit information that reveals the types of data that they gather about their users.
This data will then be made publicly available by Apple in nutrition label-style categories so users can more easily understand what they are signing up to when they use a certain app.
The information is required by Apple in order for developers to submit new apps or app updates to the App Store. While the privacy labels have not rolled out yet, they will be one of the biggest features of iOS 14, which debuted in September 2020.
Apple has long taken pains to distance itself from the user data-monetizing strategy employed by many other tech giants. "A few years ago, users of Internet services began to realize that when an online service is free, you're not the customer. You're the product," wrote Apple CEO Tim Cook in an open letter to Apple users in 2014.
WhatsApp’s Issue With Apple's Privacy Labels
WhatsApp’s apparent issue with the privacy label approach isn’t necessarily that Apple is introducing it. Instead, it doesn’t like the fact that various types of behavior can get lumped in under the same broad banners.
"Our teams have submitted our privacy labels to Apple but Apple's template does not shed light on the lengths apps may go to protect sensitive information," a WhatsApp spokesperson said. "While WhatsApp cannot see people’s messages or precise location, we're stuck using the same broad labels with apps that do."
This is unlikely to be the last time Apple will be challenged on this policy in some ways. But, by clarifying that it abides by its own rules, it does mean the company can’t be accused of hypocrisy. Customers, meanwhile, can also be reassured about how Apple’s stock apps safeguard their privacy.
The new notifications are expected to start showing up on iOS 14 imminently.
Image Credit: Apple