Apple gets tougher on apps that send our location data to third parties

May 9, 2018

In recent days, Apple has seemingly started to take a much stricter stance against apps that share users' location services with third parties. In some cases too, Apple has removed such apps from the App Store, while informing the creators that their app violates two parts of the App Store's app review guidelines.

So far, we have seen several cases where Apple has taken a strict stance on such applications. The company informs developers via email that upon re-evaluation, their app violates sections 5.1.1 and 5.1.2 of the App Store review guidelines regarding the transmission of user location data and informing the user that such data is being collected.

But let's see what the regulations that these apps violate say.

Legal 5.1.1 and Legal 5.1.2

"The application transmitting user location data to third parties without the explicit consent of the user for unauthorized purposes (they will be sanctioned)."

Apple explains that developers will have to remove any code, frameworks or SDKs that are related to the breach before their app can be resubmitted to the App Store.

This additional strictness of Apple towards these applications is apparently a result of the new regulations for the protection of user data in the EU (GDPR).

Since Apple has always been a company that is famous for the security and protection of the personal data of its users, it is obvious that it is trying to confirm in every way that the creators of the applications care about the users' data.

In the cases we have seen, apps do not do enough to inform users about what is happening with their data. Moreover, to force apps to ask for user permission for any activity, Apple seems to be imperatively asking developers to explain what the data will be used for as well as how it will be shared. Also, the company is strict with cases where data is used for purposes unrelated to improving the user experience:

"You should not use or transmit users' personal data without first obtaining their consent, informing them of how and where their data will be used.

The data collected by the applications should not be used or disclosed to third parties for purposes that are not related to improving the user experience or the performance of the software/hardware associated with the operation of the application."

It is currently unclear how effective Apple's effort to clean the App Store of such apps will be. The program has been announced through a public tweet, as well as by various developers in private posts.