Apple on Monday launched an app it calls the “nutrition labels” that give users prior knowledge of the information an app requests before they download it.
Users can find the label on an app’s App Store page, where they also see information like its ratings, price, and screenshots. The update comes with the release of the latest version of Apple’s operating system, iOS 14.3.
Apple first announced the privacy labels in June and they show information in two categories: data linked to you, and data used to track you.
Apple is deploying the labels to help it continue to strengthen privacy and user control as it joins recent privacy updates to Safari and changes to ad tracking. The privacy information is required for all apps across iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, WatchOS and TVOS when developers submit updates or new versions — including for apps made by Apple.
The labels require developers to self-report their privacy practices, however, as well as those of any third-party partners whose code is integrated into their app, and to keep those labels up to date — which could, in theory, leave room for some to try to game the system.
Apple also reaffirms its confidence in the self-reporting process as it has worked effectively for years, for example, with self-reporting app age ratings. Apple also said that if the company learns that an app is not accurately representing its data collection processes, it will work with the developer to make sure the information is correct.
The company also said it expects the program to evolve with time as it learns what works best for developers and users.
