It has been in the works for awhile now, but Apple has finally launched the App Store privacy labels for apps available in the digital storefront.
Along with the public launch of iOS 14.3, iPadOS 14.3, and macOS 11.1 Big Sur, Apple’s privacy labels for apps are now live across the company’s platforms. The goal, according to Apple, is to showcase more transparency for iOS apps, letting users know just how much of their data is being used by any one app.
The “nutrition labels” were first announced way, way back in June of this year, during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. Since then, Apple informed developers that they would have until December 8 to make any final changes, and now that that date has passed, privacy labels are required for all apps submitted to the App Store. The new labels are required for iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
What’s more, Apple is holding itself to the same standard as third-party developers utilizing the App Store. That means the company will be showing privacy labels for its own first-party apps. And for preinstalled apps, this same information will be available on its website.
There are three categories for these new privacy labels:
- Data Used to Track You
- Data Linked to You
- Data Not Linked to You
Each of the labels will provide additional information as needed, which should give App Store customers the information needed to determine if they want to download an app or not.
The new privacy labels are available now.