Requires separate opt-outs for each device

Concurrent with the launch of iOS 4, Apple has altered the terms for the iTunes Store. A summary of changes simply mentions "material" differences in the privacy section; in detail these involve Apple's iAd network, which launches on July 1st. App users can now choose to opt out of background data collection by visiting oo.apple.com.

The site must be loaded on each iOS 4 device a person wants excluded from collection, however, and Apple warns that opting out does not eliminate ads, it simply blocks the "cookies and other technologies" used to track and personalize iAd campaigns. This should however solve some privacy concerns, since the advertising data could be sensitive, and in combination with other figures it could theoretically be used to identify individuals. The opt-out does not have any effect on ads from other advertising networks.

by MacNN Staff