Apple Changes Rules for Using Data from German Applications Following German Regulator's Decision

Apple will change the rules for how applications on iPhone and iPad use users' personal data for targeted advertising. The decision was announced on Monday by Germany's Federal Cartel Office, concluding years of investigation against Apple.

The German regulator determined that Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) system created more favorable conditions for the company's own applications when obtaining user consent for data use compared to third-party developers, which was assessed as a potential violation of competition rules.

Apple will have four months from the official delivery of the decision to implement the changes. The new obligations will remain in effect for seven years and will be monitored by an independently appointed individual.

Under the new rules, consent request windows in third-party applications must be modified. They must no longer contain text and symbols that discourage or obstruct the user from refusing consent. Consent windows must become visually and linguistically neutral.

Third-party application developers will also be given greater flexibility to integrate the consent process required by Apple with their own data protection consent requests.

According to Apple, the changes will be extended to almost all countries in the European Union. The company also noted that in accordance with the regulator's requirements, it has already changed the text and design of the consent window.

For third-party application developers, including Meta Platforms, precise access to user data is particularly important, since targeted advertising typically generates higher revenue than advertising campaigns designed for a broad audience.

Apple's ATT system has previously been the focus of regulators' attention in Europe. France imposed a €150 million fine on Apple, while Italy imposed €98.6 million in fines related to ATT rules.