App Tracking Transparency – Everything That You Must Know For Security

Data privacy has long been an issue of concern for internet users. We utilize mobile apps for a variety of activities, including socializing with distant and near relatives, shopping, using online services, getting information, and many other needs.

Pellucid digital ecosystem

The regulatory authorities are placing more and more pressure on the industry’s business participants to improvise in order to safeguard the privacy of customer data despite all the technological advancements they are making. When it comes to monitoring and data collected across mobile applications and websites, openness in operations is heavily emphasized.

Providing a secure and private internet experience is the main objective here. The goal of tracking is to determine how easily consumers utilize certain programs. But concurrently, most consumers regard the tracking behavior to be an invasion of their privacy and do not enjoy it.

Most consumers voiced collective worry about how data is shared and gathered in online apps in answer to inquiries concerning a transparent digital ecosystem.

Apple came up with an answer

Therefore, one of the major companies in the information technology sector, Apple, has developed a framework for app tracking transparency. This app-tracking transparency framework will be compatible with any programs that operate on iOS 14.5 and later (as of April 2021). While creating and releasing an iOS app, it’s important to comprehend what app tracking transparency implies and how the user may remain compliant.

Apples App tracking transparency framework

Apple’s solutions for app tracking transparency the only legal and technical framework that is concentrating on enhancing user data privacy. You must enable users to manually modify the settings in any new applications you run on iOS 14.5 or later.

You must thus have a solid explanation for tracking consumers online if you distribute apps. Before moving forward, you can get authorization. You, as the app publisher, are not allowed to monitor the user once again with your app if they refuse your request. This applies to all websites, even those viewed via the application.

Here is the list to understand what actions will be seen by Apple as monitoring the user’s data.

• The information gathered from the apps and the company-owned websites is the sole basis for displaying territorial adverts in the applications.
• Sharing the data broker’s email lists and the device’s location with the data broker
• Sharing the second email address with the outside ad network
• Finding comparable prospects by retargeting the same user across many mobile applications
• By integrating the third party, the developers’ AAP information will be combined with user data from your application.

What are all the behaviors that Apple says do not constitute user tracking?

Any tracking activity clearly occurring with your application in accordance with Apple’s tracking transparency is entirely permitted. Other than that,

1. The information is fine so long as it isn’t connected to the user data logged on the website or in any other application.
2. If the information provided to the data brokers is utilized only for the purpose of identifying con artists
3. If only fraud-detection purposes are served by the data
4. If the information is only utilized to raise security standards
5. Data sharing with consumer reporting firms.
6. Consumer creditworthiness leveraging, analyzing, and assessing studies or organizations
7. To determine the criteria for determining creditworthiness based on information supplied about individual consumers’ creditworthiness

Therefore, having your app ATT compliant is commendable and beneficial in the near future, or it may even become a must in the years to come. Get the help of professionals in the field to configure your app so that it is ATT-compatible and well-liked by consumers. Without you having to scratch your brain over the proper guidelines to achieve AT compliance, they will set up your apps to perfection in accordance with the current requirements. You escape from getting your app rejected so many times to function on the iOs platform. So, for long-term benefits and to lead in your industry niche, publish your apps in conformity with ATT.

All is well said about the ATT, but why should we even care in the first place?

Apple store acceptance

When dealing with the best configuration for your applications, you can avoid a lot of platform-specific illness or silliness’. However, to cross this stumbling block of ATT compliance, you need the best configuring personnel with a great tech background that has Real Experience. This includes all who are publishing their applications to the Apple store. They will need these applications to pass the review system positively.

However, without ATT compliance completely fulfilled, the Apple Store may not accept the application.

Why should I care?

The Apple App Store is a good platform to advertise applications since it gives them far more exposure. The app will probably receive promotion through various store avenues, including app category spotlights and other advertising. The firm that created the application receives 70% of its revenue.

The complex task of coding and configuration

GDPR data tracking compliance is different from that of ATT compliance. There is code complexity for the configures otherwise, as they have to work towards segmenting the users. Those who agreed and accepted the proposals initially and the ones who rejected the proposal but still want to see the information on the site. Now, trying to share the resources in a limited fashion will not sort out the issue based on these two profiles. Adjusting the third-party agreements to this internal classification is a cumbersome task to code accordingly. Once you are permitting the third parties, it is like opening up into the infinite space of the World Wide Web. You will have no control over the dissembled data anymore. So, code complexity here shall be best handled only by the brilliant brains in the configuring niche.

Tracking requests are refused by the app users 9 out of 10 times. Apple doesn’t permit the app publisher to display the GDPR consent. The European Union’s revised and harmonized data privacy regulations are codified in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can, however store the information if you are only willing to get the user insights to assess how visitors use the app. so, the best idea here is to either not link your app at all with any of the third-party resources or databases or else don’t use the adverts to target users. So, as long as you are GDPR compliant, you, as an app publisher, shall gather all the data that you would want.

The majority of the app publishers, however, would seriously and desperately require the data. So, here is what they can do.

Even though you have general data protection regulations and GDPR compliance, do not try IDFA. This is nothing but identifiers for the advertisers. Personal information of the users, like name and contact details, are global identifiers.

A mobile application that has been set up may employ the Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) remote, unique identifier—a mobile ad ID (MAID)—that Apple allocates to a specific phone to locate customer behaviors along all apps, WebPages, or asynchronous characteristics of other companies to identify and tailor adverts to that customer’s interests.

Companies employ GUIDs when a unique identification code is needed to identify information stored on a computer or network. A 128-bit text string called an identifier is used to represent it (ID). Before tracking and retrieving device identifiers like the Apple IDFA on any iOS 14.5 compliant devices, mobile app developers must obtain user authorization. To find your Android Advertising Identifier, open the Browser Settings app on any Android mobile and choose “Advertisements.” Your ad identifiers will be listed at the bottom panel.

Do not link any of the user databases with the global identifiers.

Never deal with less reliable third-party associates.

Do not try firebase. If you are using these analytics, you have to skip sharing your analytical information with Google.

Apple has no means to figure out what is happening in the Apps backend. User data that you have may be used for any reason whatsoever. So, they may reject the apps unless they are convinced about their integrity. Other factors limit the acceptance during the review. These factors may also contribute to rejection despite abiding by Apple’s ATT rules. Yes, you are right; the review errors may go in your favor sometimes too.

Best suggestions:

• Do not track
• If you own the data, then it is good to track. If you trust any of the third-party service providers who are not going to sell the data or share the data, then you may partner with them.
• Even the people who refuse to accept the tracking request must find options to use the app fully. The flow should not be hindered for these users as well. Considering this essential requirement, configure the app accordingly if you do not own the data.

Conclusion

Get App Tracking Transparency Service With Softqube Technologies

To ensure the ATT is executed with accuracy on your app, you need to get your native app approved and published on the Apple Store. In case if you are looking for more guidance with regard to compliance and implementation, consider Softqube Technologies Full Service App Configuration Service. We have an experienced team that will help you configure an immersive native app that serves all your requirements and is all set to get published.