iOS 13 app tracking alert has dramatically cut location data flow to ad industry (appleinsider.com)

Article summary

The introduction of iOS 13's app tracking alert has significantly reduced the flow of location data to the ad industry, making it harder for advertisers to track users. According to data from Location Sciences, approximately 80% of iPhone users who installed the update stopped all background tracking by apps. This change has impacted the ability of firms to measure the effectiveness of campaigns and has led to a reduction in advertiser spending. The quality of available location data has also decreased, with more data being sourced from lower-quality sources such as carriers or internet protocols.

Main themes

• iOS 13 app tracking alert
• location data flow
• ad industry impact
• user privacy
• advertiser spending
• data quality

What commenters say

• The reduction in location data available to advertisers is a positive development for user privacy, as it limits the ability of companies to track individuals.
• The use of alternative methods such as geo IP, user agent, and fingerprinting to target users may become more prevalent in response to the reduction in location data.
• Some commenters are skeptical of apps that claim to protect user privacy, such as those that offer VPN services, due to concerns about data collection and transmission.
• The iOS 13 app tracking alert has led to the discovery of apps that were previously tracking users without their knowledge, resulting in the uninstallation of these apps.
• The effectiveness of apps that claim to block ads and trackers, such as those using DNS sinkholes, is debated, with some arguing that they can be easily circumvented.
• The involvement of ex-Apple engineers in the development of privacy-protecting apps does not necessarily guarantee their trustworthiness.
• Some users appreciate the transparency provided by the app tracking alert, which has allowed them to make more informed decisions about which apps to use and uninstall.
• The reduction in location data available to advertisers may lead to a shift towards more deterministic methods of targeting users, such as using first-party data.