Apple delays privacy policy change, much to the relief of Facebook, mobile ad sellers

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Apple Inc. on Thursday said it will delay until early next year changes to its privacy policy that Facebook Inc. and others claim will eviscerate advertising sales targeting users on iPhones and iPads.

In a note to developers, the iPhone maker said it would “give developers time to make necessary changes and apps will be required to obtain permission to track users starting early next year.”

Facebook, and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg in particular, vociferously complained that changes to the iOS 14 operating system would leave one of its mobile advertising tools “so ineffective on iOS 14 that it may not make sense to offer it.”

Digital advertising firms have dreaded the planned privacy changes that would require them to explain in their notifications why they are seeking tracking permissions. They expect most consumers would decline to grant permission.

“This is good news for our clients who have spent weeks scrambling to prepare for changes with little to no concrete information,” Adam Landis, CEO of videogaming company AdLibertas Inc. told MarketWatch. “The rumored push-back of six months will be hugely beneficial for the app developers to better prepare for these massive changes.”

In a punishing day for technolgy stocks, Facebook FB, -3.76% shares declined 3.8% and Apple AAPL, -8.00% plunged 8% in its worst trading day since March.

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