The German Federal Cartel Office has charged Apple with using its App Tracking Transparency feature to unfairly leverage its market position. After a lengthy three-year investigation, the authority concluded that the tool hinders competition by restricting advertisers' access to user data, a crucial aspect for many app developers' business models. Apple insists the feature enhances user privacy control. However, it now faces potential daily fines and must rectify the situation by a forthcoming decision, possibly impacting its operations significantly if it does not comply.
The ATTF (app tracking tool) makes it far more difficult for competing app publishers to access the user data relevant for advertising.
Apple defended the feature, stating that it holds itself to a higher standard than any third-party developer.
We will continue to constructively engage with the Federal Cartel Office to ensure users continue to have transparency and control over their data.
If Apple fails to address the concerns set out in the German charge sheet, it risks further proceedings and daily fines.
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