[izacus]

The identifier itself it made to track the user by 3rd party apps, so it's pretty clear why its there :)

Apple provides the exact same API - https://developer.apple.com/documentation/adsupport/asidenti... although IIRC it manages it better (users can revoke it, but it's on by default). I wonder why Google is singled out here though - if Apple is also mining our data, they should also be on the hook.

I wonder if all other OS vendors could be fined as well because the OSes are full of tracking identifiers - device MACs, device install identifiers, serial numbers, etc. There's plenty of apps out there that use those identifiers to track user behaviour.

[greglindahl]

Apple's identifier can't be turned off; you can manually change it as often as you like, but it involves enough clicks that I bet few people do.

[gingerlime]

It can be turned off (although I think under the hood they just send zeros).

But it’s on by default.

https://blog.gingerlime.com/2020/does-apple-care-about-your-...

EDIT also https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202074

[greglindahl]

I looked at your link and I did not see how it could be turned off. It doesn't really say what Limit Ad Tracking does. You'd think that if it caused your advertising ID to be zeroes, then Reset Advertising Identifier would be greyed out if you turned on Limit Ad Tracking.

OK, so your new link @ Apple is more clear, and I do vaguely recall seeing this years ago: for all modern iOS versions, Limit Ad Tracking does set the Ad ID to all zeroes.

[fredski]

Here is how it works in more detail: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205223

[TheArcane]

> When Limit Ad Tracking is enabled on iOS 10 or later, the Advertising Identifier is replaced with a non-unique value of all zeros to prevent the serving of targeted ads. It is automatically reset to a new random identifier if you disable Limit Ad Tracking.

[gingerlime]

I think they are deliberately making things confusing. Also the double negative thing which is not very typical for other settings.

I added a link to an Apple support doc which to me suggests that limit = off (or it’s an even bigger conspiracy than I thought, but I’m not that paranoid)

[als0]

I don't interpret "Limit Ad Tracking" as "off".

As another comment mentioned, the only effective mechanism is to reset the identifier periodically. That's not a disable mechanism, though.

[weswpg]

> When Limit Ad Tracking is enabled on iOS 10 or later, the Advertising Identifier is replaced with a non-unique value of all zeros to prevent the serving of targeted ads. It is automatically reset to a new random identifier if you disable Limit Ad Tracking.

Shouldn't that be enough?

[joemazerino]

Apple identifiers can't be turned off but they can be 'reset'.