Privacy Activists in EU File Complaints Over iPhone Tracking

guest · Nov 16, 2020

Privacy Activists in EU File Complaints Over iPhone Tracking
Apple's iPhone tracking breaches privacy law, says Max Schrems
November 16, 2020
https://www.securityweek.com/privacy-activists-eu-file-complaints-over-iphone-tracking

The Vienna-based group NOYB - short for “none of your business” - said Monday that it has asked data protection authorities in Germany and Spain to examine the legality of Apple’s tracking codes.

The codes, known as IDFA or Identifier for Advertisers, are similar to the cookies that websites use to store information on user behavior.
NOYB says the iOS operating system creates unique codes for each iPhone that allow Apple and other third parties to “identify users across applications and even connect online and mobile behaviour.”
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“Tracking is only allowed if users explicitly consent to it,” said Stefano Rossetti, a lawyer for NOYB. The privacy group said it is currently reviewing a similar system used by Google.
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noyb: noyb files complaints against Apple's tracking code "IDFA"

IDFA (Apple’s Identifier for Advertisers) allows Apple and all apps on the phone to track a user and combine information about online and mobile behaviour.
Just like for cookies, this would require the users’ consent under EU law. Apple places these tracking codes without the knowledge or agreement of the users. noyb therefore filed two complaints against the company. Our partners at Xnet were able to assist us in Spain.
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Recently Apple announced plans for future changes to the IDFA system.

"We believe that Apple violated the law before, now and after these changes. With our complaints we want to enforce a simple principle: trackers are illegal, unless a user freely consents. The IDFA should not only be restricted, but permanently deleted. Smartphones are the most intimate device for most people and they must be tracker-free by default." - Stefano Rossetti, privacy lawyer at noyb.eu
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guest · Nov 18, 2020

Apple Hits Back At iPhone Tracking Complaints By Privacy Group
November 17, 2020
https://www.silicon.co.uk/e-marketing/advertising/apple-hits-back-iphone-tracking-complaints-348977

Apple has been stung by two complaints from Austrian privacy group Noyb, which filed complaints in Germany and Spain alleging Apple’s use of a tracking code on iPhones (called IDFA) breaches European law.
But Apple is not taking the allegations by Noyb lying down, and the firm which prides itself on its robust privacy stance in its marketing content, issued a robust response to the complaints.
Noyb complaints
The central thrust of the Noyb’s complaints concern Apple’s use of a tracking code, known as the Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA), which is automatically generated on every iPhone when it is set up.
This is highly valuable data for advertisers, and is one of the reasons why people tend to get start getting targetted adverts when they browse a particular item online.
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Apple response
But Apple has directly rebutted the claims filed by Noyb, saying they were “factually inaccurate and we look forward to making that clear to privacy regulators should they examine the complaint”.
Apple also said it “does not access or use the IDFA on a user’s device for any purpose”.

“Our practices comply with European law and support and advance the aims of the GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive, which is to give people full control over their data,” Apple reportedly said.
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dogbite · Nov 19, 2020

Reminder for those using iOS: reset your advert ID from time to time.

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