The German privacy regulator Federal Cartel Office launches an investigation into whether Apple is violating competition rules with its App Tracking Transparency. As a result, apps must ask users for permission before they can track their data in apps or websites of other companies.
The regulator wants to find out whether Apple is not an obstacle for developers. President of the Bundeskartellamt Andreas Mundt welcomes the fact that users themselves determine how their data may be processed. “But a company like Apple, which sets the rules for its App Store, should set rules to promote competition,” he says. “We doubt this is the case when we see that Apple’s rules apply to others, but not to Apple itself.”
In that case, Apple would have an advantage over competitors, says the regulator. A preliminary investigation would show that the tech giant excludes itself from its own rules. Incidentally, Apple does not add advertisements to its own apps, but advertisements can be seen in the app store. By registering which apps and sites people visit more, targeted advertisements can be shown.
Regulators in other countries are also watching the use of Apple’s tracking rules. France and the United Kingdom say they are closely monitoring the matter, and Poland announced an investigation late last year.
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