As Apple has been focusing on users’ privacy for a while now, it wasn’t particularly shocking when the tech giant announced that developers must list all of the privacy-related activities their app does moving forward. For instance, it means developers must require users’ permission whenever the app uses phone’s camera, microphone, whether it tracks you, what kind of data it gathers from you, and so on.
While the decision was made to help users to choose which app they want to use, some developers are concerned that the new policy will have negative impact on downloads and usage of their apps. Recently reports started surfacing that some Chinese tech companies have found a way around that puts up the privacy labels but circumvents. Understandably, Apple isn’t particularly pleased with the practice and issued a warning to the developers.
According to a report from the Financial Times, Apple has sent emails two at least two Chinese app developers warning them about the tracking without users’ permission. If the developers do not comply with the policy and make necessary changes, their apps will be removed from the store.
The report claims that Apple was aware of the workaround but chose to ignore it until the practice attracted media coverage over recent weeks.
