How Google can have its privacy cake while eating its data tracking, too

Some of us are more concerned about our digital privacy than others, but no matter how you feel about sharing your information online, this area is where the next Big Tech wars are going to be fought. We're already seeing how companies like Apple are just going hard in the paint and giving options to share nothing while others like Facebook merge even more tracking into WhatsApp. Both are doing it wrong, but Google could do it right. Source: Apple As someone who is concerned about digital privacy (both mine and yours), part of me loves how Apple is moving in for the kill. The App Store has privacy nutrition labels (such a bad name) that tell you what an app could do and settings that allow you to completely sandbox an app you've installed so only Apple gets a peek at what you're doing and how you're doing it. And yes, Apple needs some data like that to keep improving its products.VPN Deals: Lifetime license for $16, monthly plans at $1 & more

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Apple’s next iOS 14 beta will begin forcing developers to ask for permission to track you

What Apple doesn't seem to care about is an entire industry built on the old way of doing things, where every app just tracked everything and only a few people ever seemed to think about it. Facebook is a great example here. Facebook has an ad platform as big as Google's and it works the same way — collect personal data and serve ads for things you might find interesting. Folks buying ad space love targeted advertising because they know more interested people will end up clicking on one. This makes a company that can place targeted ads pretty valuable.

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Apple fires warning shot at Facebook and Google on privacy, pledges fight against 'data-industrial complex'
Speaking at the European Data Protection and Privacy Conference on Tuesday, Apple's senior VP of software Craig Federighi made a number of pointed comments about how “some tech companies” would prefer it if Apple’s new App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature was “never implemented at all.”.

Facebook is in meltdown mode over Apple's new changes because it stands to lose a significant chunk of its value once people realize they can toggle a setting and opt-out of ad tracking. Google's not immune here and has already advised customers using its ad engine to brace themselves for a significant impact once iOS 14's privacy updates go into effect.

How Google can have its privacy cake while eating its data tracking, too

[Update: Apple details delay] Apple reportedly delaying iOS 14 advertising privacy feature bashed by Facebook

Facebook now warning users about impacts on ads due to new iOS 14 privacy features

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Google avoids updating iOS apps as Apple adds privacy labels- 9to5Mac