Why doesn't Apple COMPLETELY disable ad tracking?

[-BigMac-]

Hey peeps.

Fresh off todays news that Facebook is making a loss because it can't track customers in iOS as accurately anymore.. makes me wonder..

Why doesn't Apple COMPLETELY disable all Ad tracking (within their control)?

Is there people who actually WANT to be tracked by ads?

Does Apple benefit in any way, shape, or form by allowing Ad tracking?

Am curious

Cheers

 

[laptech]

Hey peeps.

Fresh off todays news that Facebook is making a loss because it can't track customers in iOS as accurately anymore.. makes me wonder..

Why doesn't Apple COMPLETELY disable all Ad tracking (within their control)?

Is there people who actually WANT to be tracked by ads?

Does Apple benefit in any way, shape, or form by allowing Ad tracking?

Am curious

Cheers

How do you think a lot of these data analysts companies and university researchers are able to produce reports on iphone app usages and stastics on iphone usage? it's because Apple sells them the data which means Apple needs to track it's users just as much as anyone else does which is why Apple will not ban all tracking because it will hurt them financially.

 

[-BigMac-]

How do you think a lot of these data analysts companies and university researchers are able to produce reports on iphone app usages and stastics on iphone usage? it's because Apple sells them the data which means Apple needs to track it's users just as much as anyone else does which is why Apple will not ban all tracking because it will hurt them financially.

Developers are able to see their own stats (like regional revenue, downloads etc.) for their own apps, that's all they should be able to see.

If a Developer company wants to share those very limited usage stats with researchers for their reports, then they can do that - they're only really sharing their own info.

Now using forms of tracking (Ad or otherwise unknown to the user) to see userID#39278463 (John Smith, Date of Birth 1/1/91 of address XXXXX) has visited these sites, travelled to these locations on these dates, was near these people, and made calls to these numbers at these times.. that crosses the line of what I would like to share with these Developer companies, without expressly allowing them to hoard and ascertain that info.

But I know a lot of people disagree - and there's nothing wrong with that, hence the vote and thread

To respond to the second part, I guess Apple is not much better than the other companies then

 

[Bazza1]

Because, for all their banging on about Privacy, Apple too uses tracking (not just for ads), and doesn't want the bad PR / court cases when others would feel obliged to call them on killing off theirs but Apple keeping their own.

Turning 'ON' tracking of any kind should be the choice of the consumer who bought a product or app for their own use.

 

[contacos]

I am actually obsessed with trying to fool Instagram. They are the worst offenders in the way that they are so detailed with their targeting. It is almost creepy but unfortunately so far no luck.

I tried using the DuckDuck Go Browser / in combination with the mobile insta page instead of using the App
I have AdGuard Pro and Privacy Relay enabled
I have location data of Instagram set to NEVER
I have Photos set to only share selected photos
I have tried the AdGuard Pro VPN to block outgoing traffic (is that the correct term)

and STILL Instagram figured out I was looking for healthy food choices on Safari and now all I get is ads for "HelloFresh". So annoying

 

[jz0309]

I am actually obsessed with trying to fool Instagram. They are the worst offenders in the way that they are so detailed with their targeting. It is almost creepy but unfortunately so far no luck.

I tried using the DuckDuck Go Browser / in combination with the mobile insta page instead of using the App
I have AdGuard Pro and Privacy Relay enabled
I have location data of Instagram set to NEVER
I have Photos set to only share selected photos
I have tried the AdGuard Pro VPN to block outgoing traffic (is that the correct term)

and STILL Instagram figured out I was looking for healthy food choices on Safari and now all I get is ads for "HelloFresh". So annoying

welcome to the metaverse ...

 

[twdawson]

welcome to the metaverse ...

Don’t you mean welcome to 1984.

 

[wonderings]

I am actually obsessed with trying to fool Instagram. They are the worst offenders in the way that they are so detailed with their targeting. It is almost creepy but unfortunately so far no luck.

I tried using the DuckDuck Go Browser / in combination with the mobile insta page instead of using the App
I have AdGuard Pro and Privacy Relay enabled
I have location data of Instagram set to NEVER
I have Photos set to only share selected photos
I have tried the AdGuard Pro VPN to block outgoing traffic (is that the correct term)

and STILL Instagram figured out I was looking for healthy food choices on Safari and now all I get is ads for "HelloFresh". So annoying

They are giving you a service for free, I would expect them to do all sorts of things to make money from you. I would say if you don't want to be tracked a good way to start is to stay off these sort of social media apps.

I am not a social media user, no facebook, no instagram. Forums is the closest thing I use to social media. Not sure I would call any of the big players offenders, again they are giving you a free service. They would not be providing you with the platform if they could not make money from it. You have to expect they are going to do everything they can get away with to profit from your data.

 

[-BigMac-]

They are giving you a service for free, I would expect them to do all sorts of things to make money from you. I would say if you don't want to be tracked a good way to start is to stay off these sort of social media apps.

I am not a social media user, no facebook, no instagram. Forums is the closest thing I use to social media. Not sure I would call any of the big players offenders, again they are giving you a free service. They would not be providing you with the platform if they could not make money from it. You have to expect they are going to do everything they can get away with to profit from your data.

I agree, but I would argue my personal data, privacy and constant tracking is worth more than the $10 a month they could charge for the service instead.

I don’t want some random somewhere, who I have never met, to know everything about me.

 

[OnawaAfrica]

Hey peeps.

Fresh off todays news that Facebook is making a loss because it can't track customers in iOS as accurately anymore.. makes me wonder..

Why doesn't Apple COMPLETELY disable all Ad tracking (within their control)?

Is there people who actually WANT to be tracked by ads?

Does Apple benefit in any way, shape, or form by allowing Ad tracking?

Am curious

Cheers

no if apple would switch of ad tracking for everything that would be exactly what pipo clain that apple is a inforcing monopol

 

[contacos]

I agree, but I would argue my personal data, privacy and constant tracking is worth more than the $10 a month they could charge for the service instead.

I don’t want some random somewhere, who I have never met, to know everything about me.

I think find targeted marketing based on private data / taste stupid and I work in online marketing (lol) cuz you usually end up with ads of things you have already bought or searched for other people.

I am surprised there isn’t more focus on „content based“ advertisement yet. For instance, if I am reading an article about Mexico, maybe show me an ad for cheap airline tickets instead of a random iPhone case ad, just because I have an iPhone

 

[CTHarrryH]

I'm sure there are plenty of people who say - if I'm going to get ads I'd rather have one that interest me vs. all the other stuff.

 

[glindon]

Hey peeps.

Fresh off todays news that Facebook is making a loss because it can't track customers in iOS as accurately anymore.. makes me wonder..

Why doesn't Apple COMPLETELY disable all Ad tracking (within their control)?

Is there people who actually WANT to be tracked by ads?

Does Apple benefit in any way, shape, or form by allowing Ad tracking?

Am curious

Cheers

I take offense: Peeps, a sugary chick shaped snack, peddled around holidays, most notably Easter, is not something I would consider myself these days.
But on a serious note, it would be nice to go back to simpler times, such as when our friend, the Peep, was born into our American psyche. A time when Ads were placed where it made sense, and there was no concept of tracking. Good Housekeeping just had ads for vacuum cleaners and other household items. It sounds crazy but it was true.
Of course Apple benefits by ad tracking. It sells Apple devices to software developers, who then in turn develop tracking software. The circle is complete.
They can’t go too far on blocking ad tracking either because they can run into monopoly issues. And Apple already tracks you as it is. Every app you use, the time spent in that app, everything you purchase from Apple, such as movies, music, devices. There is no privacy these days—only the illusion of privacy.

 

[glindon]

I'm sure there are plenty of people who say - if I'm going to get ads I'd rather have one that interest me vs. all the other stuff.

This only works for things like magazines. Woodworking magazine advertises woodworking tools. That model breaks down when you’re consuming “Facebook.”

 

[boss.king]

This only works for things like magazines. Woodworking magazine advertises woodworking tools. That model breaks down when you’re consuming “Facebook.”

There’s a lot more places where you get targeted ads other than Facebook. Also, I promise you that online ads are better targeted to your interests (or at least relevant to the things you look at) than print ads are.

 

[-BigMac-]

I'm sure there are plenty of people who say - if I'm going to get ads I'd rather have one that interest me vs. all the other stuff.

So far 3 out of 36 people in the poll agree with you?
I think privacy is becoming more and more important to people.

A lot of my friends deleted facebook because of the privacy/selling of data or the constant “accidental leaks of user data”?

 

[wonderings]

I agree, but I would argue my personal data, privacy and constant tracking is worth more than the $10 a month they could charge for the service instead.

I don’t want some random somewhere, who I have never met, to know everything about me.

I guess it would depend on how much an individuals data is worth to Facebook, Google, whoever. I am wondering if everyone just paid $10 a month if they would make more money or less. Again I think if you want to remain private you need to stay offline, or as close to it as you can. It is unavoidable to not be tracked, this site alone Safari lists 3 trackers. Apple, Google, Facebook, etc, they are all mining our data and making money from it.

 

[twdawson]

I guess it would depend on how much an individuals data is worth to Facebook, Google, whoever. I am wondering if everyone just paid $10 a month if they would make more money or less. Again I think if you want to remain private you need to stay offline, or as close to it as you can. It is unavoidable to not be tracked, this site alone Safari lists 3 trackers. Apple, Google, Facebook, etc, they are all mining our data and making money from it.

So why does this site allow those trackers?

 

[antiprotest]

I am actually obsessed with trying to fool Instagram. They are the worst offenders in the way that they are so detailed with their targeting. It is almost creepy but unfortunately so far no luck.

I tried using the DuckDuck Go Browser / in combination with the mobile insta page instead of using the App
I have AdGuard Pro and Privacy Relay enabled
I have location data of Instagram set to NEVER
I have Photos set to only share selected photos
I have tried the AdGuard Pro VPN to block outgoing traffic (is that the correct term)

and STILL Instagram figured out I was looking for healthy food choices on Safari and now all I get is ads for "HelloFresh". So annoying

And now we all know. PM me for referral code.

 

[contacos]

Huh?

edit: just got it ?

 

[wonderings]

So why does this site allow those trackers?

Not sure how these sites make money, but MacRumors is making money in some ways I am sure, maybe the trackers are part of how they make money with adds on the site, not sure.

 

[Bazza1]

I use the free portion of the Lockdown app on my iPhone, and it has recorded and blocked 883 attempts so far today (11,000 this week) of various apps attempting to 'call home' - even when I'm not using the app and did not give app 'permission' as per the Apple 'security' measures.

Similarly, I've been trying the DuckDuckGo equivalent (still in Beta) on a cheapo Android tablet, and its reporting it has blocked 5,784 tracking attempts over 11 apps in the past week. Some of which I haven't opened in that time period.

Absolutely inexcusable behaviour from apps and the devices they are on.

ADDENDUM: And, for what it's worth, I use Firefox and it's Containers / Sandboxes to isolate Firefox, Google, Amazon et al into their own spaces and to limit cross-website tracking. Oh, and FB Purity to clean up the gunge on Facebook directly. Seems to help on the tracking / ad front on my 'real' computer.

 

[Bazza1]

if they disable ad tracking completely then how will google FB will survive if they don't survive then who will use ios or android

I suspect that if Google or Facebook charged a monthly fee for their service, we'd have a serious rethink as to how valuable or necessary we actually believe these products are. And folks like Zuck would have more to concern themselves with than the fact that people aren't visiting all their social media products multiple times daily.

 

[wonderings]

I suspect that if Google or Facebook charged a monthly fee for their service, we'd have a serious rethink as to how valuable or necessary we actually believe these products are. And folks like Zuck would have more to concern themselves with than the fact that people aren't visiting all their social media products multiple times daily.

I completely agree. The business is not social media but data analytics. Personally I see more negatives to social media than positives, which is why I abstain from it beyond forums and using google chat for a few friends, both would not really be called social media.

 

[-BigMac-]

Not sure how these sites make money, but MacRumors is making money in some ways I am sure, maybe the trackers are part of how they make money with adds on the site, not sure.

One of the ways I'm aware of.. users have the ability to donate to the website, for a different title and no ads