Facebook subtly threatens to charge iOS users unless they share data after Apple’s privacy policy

By Ahsan Zafeer ⏐ 5 years ago ⏐

2 min read

Apple has updated its privacy policy for iOS 14, which mandates app developers too. The social media giant Facebook had long been campaigning against this update.

However, Apple’s new policy for iOS 14, which obligates the app developers to notify users about the information they collect, has gone into effect. Facebook has added a notice for the users clarifying the information its apps collect to “help keep Facebook free of charge.”

The company refers to the notices as “educational screens” and says that they provided “more details about how we use data for personalized ads.”

And it begins. @Facebook / @Instagram explore additional scare tactics to combat @Apple iOS14 #ATT privacy changes.

“Help keep Facebook free of charge” pic.twitter.com/mOB9WJpz9A

— ashkan soltani (@ashk4n) April 30, 2021

These on-screen notices say: “This version of iOS requires us to ask for permission to track some data from the devices to improve your ads. Learn how we limit the use of this information if you don’t turn on this device setting. We use information about your activity received from other apps and websites to: show you more personalized ads, help keep Facebook free of charge [and] support businesses that rely on ads to reach their customers.”

Did you know your @Facebook app on your phone can track what you do in other apps?

Now, you can opt out of this cross-app tracking with @Apple’s new software update.

Spread the word: #EveryoneOptOut pic.twitter.com/wWCVOdT7NT

— American Economic Liberties Project (@econliberties) April 30, 2021

Facebook has extensively critiqued Apple’s iOS 14 privacy updates, contending that the privacy changes could hurt small ventures or which may depend on Facebook’s ad network to reach customers. Facebook says Apple is encouraging new business models to rely less on advertising and more on subscriptions, potentially giving Apple a cut, thereby benefitting it more than the small businesses.

Apple’s CEO hasn’t held back either. Speaking at Brussels’ International Privacy Day, Cook stressed that Facebook was exploiting its users and misleading them to acquire their personal data for its own gains.

Apple, Facebook, privacy and security facebook

Ahsan Zafeer

A digital marketing professional specializing in content-based functional areas – Ahsan Zafeer is driven by a never-ending passion for developing, nurturing, and strategizing key content aspects. He writes extensively on tech, digital marketing, SEO, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. He also serves as a digital marketing strategist and freelance consultant for globally oriented organizations. He tweets @AhsanZafeer