Facebook tests pop-up for iPhone users before ad tracking update

The pop-up is created to protect user privacy, but the Facebook app will offer its own pop-up screen explaining the benefits of targeted advertising before users are given the option to opt out of being tracked.

Now, Facebook plans to show a prompt "of our own, along with Apple's" in an effort to show users how personalized ads "support small businesses and keep apps free", the company said in an update Monday to an older blog post called "Speaking Up for Small Businesses".

The iOS 14 update will require app developers like Facebook to show users a pop-up asking for permission to "track you across apps and websites".

A new Apple software feature referred to as a "privacy nutrition label" includes a displayed prompt telling people what tracking data is gathered by mobile apps and asking for permission to allow it.

"Apple's new prompt is created to present a false trade-off between personalised ads and privacy; when in fact, we can provide both".

If you accept the prompts for Facebook and Instagram, the ads you see on those apps won't change.

"As we have said repeatedly, we believe Apple is behaving anti-competitively by using their control of the App Store to benefit their bottom line at the expense of app developers and small businesses", Facebook told AFP, declining to confirm or deny the report. The Apple prompt also provides no context about the benefits of personalized ads.

The Apple pop-up isn't yet required of apps, but Facebook said it will test its message to learn more about how users respond before the privacy rule kicks in.

"Apple may say that they're doing this to help people but the moves clearly track their competitive interests". Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook last week accused big tech companies, without naming them, of "data exploitation" by selling user information to target ads.