Apple is removing apps that share location data with third-parties, says report

App Store

In the wake of the Facebook Cambridge Analytica data breach, Apple tree has started removing apps from the iOS App Store that violate the company'south policies on sharing location information with 3rd-parties without seeking explicit consent, according to report from 9to5Mac.

Sections v.1.1 and five.i.2 of Apple'south App Store Guidelines, which state that apps are not allowed to pass on "user location data to tertiary parties without explicit consent from the user [or] for unapproved purposes," is the specific clause in question. This particular department of the App Store'southward Guidelines has existed in some form since 2014.

Beneath is an abbreviated outline of the guidelines:

"Data nerveless from apps may not exist used or shared with tertiary parties for purposes unrelated to improving the user experience or software/hardware performance connected to the app's functionality, or to serve advert in compliance with the Apple tree Developer Program License Agreement…"

Developers that have violated these guidelines have received notifications from Apple that their apps are not in compliance following "re-evaulation," co-ordinate to diverse social media posts and developers who reached out to9to5Mac directly.

Apple finally decided to get-go enforcing guidelines on selling location data

via @jeromep1970 pic.twitter.com/YKAWfMBq35

— Thomasbcn (@Thomasbcn) May vii, 2018

It's likely that Apple'southward motility to more strictly enforce the policy is related to the General Data Protection Regulation that'south ready to go into effect on May 25th in Europe. The new rules force technology companies to obtain explicit informed consent before they're able to collect data from a user.

Co-ordinate to the letters sent to programmer affected by this new enforcement, in society to get their apps reinstated, lawmaking, frameworks and SKDs related to third-political party location sharing must be removed. The app then needs to be resubmitted for review.

It's currently unclear how many developers are affected past Apple more strictly enforcing this rule.

Source: 9to5Mac