[querulous]

the mechanism isn't important. what apple restricts is access to any kind of cross app identifier like the idfa unless the user explicitly opts in. sketchier platforms use device fingerprinting but apple also forbids that under it's terms

the only way to do cross app tracking in ios without the user opting in and without violating apple policy is via explicitly associating accounts across apps either via oauth or some kind of account linking

[mvanbaak]

And how is this a problem? As user i like the idea that i can select where and when i want this tracking to take place

[tehlike]

Apple also restricts what app developer can offer to people who don't agree to tracking.

Imagine if you are less monetizable user, in theory, app should be able to restrict what you can do in the app. It's a business transaction after all

But apple gets a say in this too.

Also apple uses it's app store moat to restrict tracking on websites too, similarly.

[kalleboo]

> Apple also restricts what app developer can offer to people who don't agree to tracking.

To be fair, so does the GDPR which Apple is subject to

[tehlike]

Couple things there: 1. Gdpr is eu market more or less. 2. There is no law dictating how consent should look like (to the font color/size level). 3. Apples data is first party, massive difference.

[cma]

Up the thread someone claims Apple calls it "personalization" when they ask you to opt in to it from them but "tracking" when an app asks you to opt in to the same thing.