Skip to main content

Apple is removing apps that overshare your location data with third parties

app store
Jongjet Klieanthong/123rf / Jongjet Klieanthong/123rf

As protecting user privacy continues to move up the totem pole of public awareness, Apple has become the latest tech firm to take a stand against sharing location data. As originally reported by 9to5Mac, the iEmpire has begun removing apps from the App Store that are in violation of location data policies. That means that if an app shares your location with third parties without your permission, it’s being kicked off the platform.

Recommended Videos

As per sections 5.1.1 and 5.1.2 of Apple’s App Store Guidelines, apps cannot share “user location data to third parties without explicit consent from the user [or] for unapproved purposes.” App developers who are not compliant with these guidelines have since received alerts from Apple, informing them that they are breaking the rules “upon re-evaluation.” The company also notes that developers are required to do away with any code, frameworks, or SDKs that violate the Guidelines before they can resubmit their app to the App Store.

As 9to5Mac notes, the apps that have been called out thus far don’t do a sufficient job in explaining to users what actually happens to and with their data. It’s not enough for apps to only ask for permission for user information — rather, Apple also wants developers to tell users how their data will ultimately be leveraged and with whom it will be shared. And in cases where data is used for “purposes unrelated to improving the user experience,” Apple is pulling the plug, too.

Indeed, the Guidelines are quite explicit in noting that apps must provide “access to information about how and where the data will be used,” and that “data collected from apps may not be used or shared with third parties for purposes unrelated to improving the user experience or software/hardware performance connected to the app’s functionality.”

It’s not entirely clear how many apps have been affected by this crackdown, but we will update this post as we learn more.

Apple isn’t the only company that is taking a closer look at location data. Just a few weeks ago, Uber announced new changes that end the ridesharing company’s practice of sharing exact pick-up and drop-off location with drivers.

Lulu Chang
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
A native Android Apple TV app is now in the Google Play store
The Apple TV app on a Samsung Android phone.

It's been five years since the Apple TV app was launched, and we're now getting a version for Android devices -- built from the ground up for native Android integration -- in the Google Play store that will have the same Apple TV+ functionality as the Apple ecosystem version. The new app means users with Android OS 10 or later will finally have the ability to sign up for Apple TV+ on their Android-based phones and tablets to watch shows and movies like Severance, Silo, Killers of the Flower Moon, and CODA. There will be no difference in pricing on Android compared to Apple.

This should enable seamless interactivity across platforms for features such as Continue Watching -- which keeps track of where you are in a show or movie and allows you to pick up from that spot when you return, regardless of the device you watch on. Customer's Watchlist will be kept up to date across devices as well, and since purchases are linked to your Apple account, all the content you own will be accessible on any device with the new updated app. One thing missing at launch, though, will be the ability to cast Apple TV content from your Android device.

Read more
Apple Sports App adds NASCAR coverage ahead of 2025 season
The Apple Sports app on iPhone shows NASCAR coverage.

—As the Daytona 500 approaches this weekend, Apple has added NASCAR coverage to the Apple Sports app that launched last year. Since launching in February 2024, the Apple Sports app has gradually added coverage for various sports leagues. However, it started to gain traction last fall when the college football season began.

This free app allows iPhone users to follow their favorite teams, leagues, and tournaments, providing real-time scores, statistics, schedules, and news. It also features "Live Activities," enabling users to view live scores and updates directly on their iPhone Lock Screen, Dynamic Island, and Apple Watch.

Read more
This music app is doing something different in the Apple App Store
The Practice Pro app.

The iOS App Store is awash with apps using subscriptions and in-app payments, but our attention has been drawn to a brand new release that goes back to the old way of doing things — charging a one-off payment. It’s such a rare approach, the company has even drawn attention to it in the app’s top features list.

The app is Practice Pro, a release from developers Dynamic App Design, and it is made to help musicians practice and improve with use. The studio claims it’s suitable for professional and amateur musicians due to its clever modular design. Using different widgets, the app can be set up to only include the practice tools relevant to you, a better option than either using multiple apps, or having a cluttered, unfocused menu.

Read more