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France fines Apple €150M for “excessive” pop-ups that let users reject tracking

(arstechnica.com)
249 points sebastian_z | 4 comments | 31 Mar 25 17:38 UTC | HN request time: 0.623s | source
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nottorp ◴[31 Mar 25 17:45 UTC] No.43537683[source]▶
Actually Apple were fined because they don't apply the same standard to their own pop-ups that allow users to reject tracking. On Apple popups you seem to need one click, while on 3rd party popups you need to confirm twice.

So the fine seems to be for treating 3rd parties differently from their own stuff.

They could make their own popups require double confirmation instead...

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crazygringo ◴[31 Mar 25 19:11 UTC] No.43538615[source]▶
I'm genuinely confused. Where's the double part?

When I install an app I get a single popup asking whether I want to share with advertisers or not.

I don't have to do anything twice.

Is it different in Europe or something? Is there a second popup there, and if so, what?

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1. AlanYx ◴[31 Mar 25 20:31 UTC] No.43539596[source]▶
This is for system-level permissions. In third-party apps, the app asks whether you want to enable X permission and then you get an OS-level confirmation request. It's not just in Europe.

Likely they'll fall back in Europe to double-prompting as well in system apps.

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2. crazygringo ◴[31 Mar 25 20:44 UTC] No.43539758[source]▶
I've never gotten that, I don't think? I only get the OS-level request. For ad tracking we're talking about? But even for stuff like Bluetooth or location.

I mean, I've had apps show a popup beforehand explaining what they want me to answer. But that's not required, nor does it seem common.

3. 85392_school ◴[31 Mar 25 21:19 UTC] No.43540099[source]▶
Do we only care now that the permissions being requested are related to tracking?
4. chillacy ◴[01 Apr 25 13:27 UTC] No.43546557[source]▶
Afaik the apps don't have to ask you, they could just request the OS-level permissions. They don't do that because if you reject the request at the OS level, they can't request it again, you have to go to the Settings app to enable it and it's harder to do. So apps prefer to just nag you again and again until you say you're ready.