[greggman]

If the permission to get the user's location always bugged the user and most users said "no" the ad network library would quickly realize they're losing money by asking and stop asking.

In Android's case there is no way for them to know. The app either has the permission or it's not installed.

In iOS they do know. The user can give permission, not give permission, or can give it and revoke it later. Their analytics can then tell them what percentage of users are not giving them that info.

In any case, you as a developer could also choose to speak up and say to the network ad provider. "I'm choosing a provider that doesn't need more permissions".