Help with App Privacy settings in App Store Connect

zoobuffalo

Shaun_Max oh really? Wasn't aware of that. Looks like this update is going to be even bigger...

zoobuffalo

Well, I was able to submit the app for review now by checking off the AdMob-specified data in the Privacy section and saying yes, we do use that data for tracking. I'd previously said no to the tracking questions as I didn't really understand what I was being asked.

zoobuffalo

And, immediately rejected because yep, looks like the user permission is now a requirement: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/user-privacy-and-data-use/#permission-to-track

Shaun_Max

zoobuffalo i told you so!

FliplineStudios

ma If you wish to directly display the App Tracking Transparency authorisation dialog you can use the IDFA ANE

@ma Could you clarify if and when the Adverts ANE displays the App Tracking Transparency dialog on its own, without using the additional IDFA ANE? I've also been looking at the Adverts ANE docs as well to update an app, and I see the information about adding the NSUserTrackingUsageDescription string for iOS, but couldn't find where exactly this dialog would appear in the flow of setup/initialization (if it just appears naturally when we call initialise, or when an ad loads, or if it's never shown and we need to use the other ANE to accomplish that, etc.)

ma

FliplineStudios You can use the User Messaging Platform in the Adverts ANE to present the authorisation dialog, however we generally have chosen to go the more direct route using the IDFA ANE.

https://support.google.com/fundingchoices/answer/9995402

Shaun_Max

ma so i gathered more information. please correct me if I am wrong.

we need to ask users permission to display ads in iOS as its using IDFA for user tracking. Better to ask the permission in the first app load & when ever they are interested to watch ads.

we need to give users the option to view only personalized ads, in this way it will benefit all of the parties. If we don't, then user will be exposed to random ads.

ma I believe, onesignal & google analytics also use IDFA right? if yes, what will happen to those services, if user declines tracking permission?

ma

Shaun_Max I believe the usage in GA and OneSignal have fail overs if IDFA isn't available.

Shaun_Max

ma sorry, i didn't understand. are you saying on iOS 14 if user denies permission both GA & Onesignal will stop working???? or both will work as normal but user cannot be tracked.

ma

I meant that they have processes to fall back on if the idfa is not available, so they will continue working though may be in some limited capacity. You should contact them directly though to confirm I am not an expert on their internal implementations.

zoobuffalo

I'm gonna re-work my game to not use ads! Can't deal!

Shaun_Max

zoobuffalo but why? all we have to do is to display the permission option for each install. Also i believe even if you remove it you still have to use it for GA, pushnotifications & any other 3rd party sdk in use.

zoobuffalo

🙂 I do this for fun. And these parts are so not fun. Paid apps only (no fancy other ANEs either) from now on for me!

pol2095

you can see here too

Shaun_Max

guys! i just checked few apps on the app Store & none of them are asking permission for IDFA???

Is there something I don't know? my app works fine so far in the app Store.

ma

Shaun_Max I don't know whether Apple will enforce asking for it or allow apps to continue without it (you do need to complete the new privacy declaration correctly though).

What happens if you don't ask is (as far as I can tell) that you just get an invalid idfa returned so any services providing personalised ads or tracking of your users with the idfa will fail. Normally this is silent and won't affect your app directly. Indirectly though you will no longer be able to target ads, which will eventually lead to a decrease in income (how much though I can't tell you, depends on users etc).

So while people like Facebook are worried about it, I don't think you should stress unless you are trying to get every possible dollar out of ads in your app. With one of our apps our client has just decided to not ask at all. They will take the loss with non-targeted ads instead.

Shaun_Max

ma Yep! got it 👍 I am also going to do the same thing. I don't care about the attribution or ad revenues. The game must go on...

zoobuffalo

Oh, so you can get away without asking? In that case would I not include the NSUserTrackingUsageDescription in my manifest?

ma

zoobuffalo Yeah, I'm not sure what Apple's review policy will be on this but seems to have worked for us recently.

zoobuffalo

I'll give it a shot at the weekend and report back!

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