Apple’s New Privacy Tracking Pop-Up Appearing for Some iOS 14 Users Before Wide Rollout

Apple is planning to launch its App Tracking Transparency update that will require developers to request permission to track user activity across other apps and websites. The privacy tracking update has now been spotted by users who are enrolled in the first iOS 14.4 beta.

Although the update is intended to roll out to all iPhone and iPad users in January or February of 2021, some users have already seen the new privacy tracking pop-up when accessing apps. MacRumors reported that users on their forums posted a screenshot of their device displaying a tracking prompt for the NBA app and requested permission “to track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites”.

Apple first intended to release the new program earlier this year in September. However, when wanting to ensure that the privacy tracking prompt worked as intended, it was delayed until early in the new year.

Facebook has already been fairly vocal in its stance against Apple’s privacy tracking. The social media platform has jumped into the ring and says it is fighting for small businesses, a sector that Facebook believes will be heavily affected by Apple’s ad tracking. The company launched a campaign of full-page ads against Apple earlier this week.

Naturally, Apple stood their ground and fired back at Facebook. In a statement released, the company said that “Users should know when their data is being collected and shared across other apps and websites — and they should have the choice to allow that or not.”

While users who have access to the iOS 14.4 beta have already begun to see the privacy tracking notifications pop up. Some users have also noticed it on iOS 14.3 as well. We don’t intend there will be many cases of this. Most will have to wait until the official rollout in the new year.

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