[imagesource:here]

If you’re looking for an example of unshakeable brand loyalty, look no further than those who use Apple products.

One of the drawcards is the company’s commitment to improving its products year-on-year in line with what their customers want and need, evident in their latest iOS 14 update.

In keeping with growing concerns over how our information is collected and disseminated online, Apple decided to step up with a solution.

With iOS 14, privacy practices from apps are on full display, showing you what data they collect and which companies it is shared with before you download them so that you know what you’re getting into.

Apps also need to actively ask for permission before tracking you across services. Apple allows you to choose between “Allow Tracking” or “Ask App Not To Track”.

Everyone is pretty stoked about this, with one notable exception: Facebook.

This comes as no surprise considering the social media company’s track record when it comes to the privacy of its users.  Take a look at what it does with your information for some insight into why it was time for someone to intervene.

There was also that advert from back in September.

Anyway, Facebook isn’t going down without a fight.

Per The Verge Facebook has stepped up its campaign against Apple with a full-page newspaper ad, claiming that Apple’s iOS 14 privacy changes “will change the internet as we know it,” and force websites and blogs “to start charging you subscription fees” or add in-app purchases due to a lack of personalised ads.

This is the second ad put out by the company, the first of which appeared in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and The Washington Post:

Real heroes. This couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the payout it gets from data collection and advertising.

Facebook says that Apple’s changes will be “devastating to small businesses” that rely on its ad network to generate sales. The newspaper ads direct small businesses to Facebook’s Speak up for Small Business site.

Tim Cook responded in a tweet saying that Apple “believes users should have the choice over the data that is being collected about them and how it’s used”.

We believe users should have the choice over the data that is being collected about them and how it’s used. Facebook can continue to track users across apps and websites as before, App Tracking Transparency in iOS 14 will just require that they ask for your permission first. pic.twitter.com/UnnAONZ61I

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 17, 2020

Correct.

Facebook has also insinuated that Apple’s changes are more about moving websites and apps into a paid model where Apple stands to benefit from in-app purchases and subscriptions.

There is no evidence of this.

Sorry Facebook, but you’re going to have to try harder than a few ads to sway Apple users.

[source:verge]