Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), initiated this week a program designed to remove from the AppStore applications that are dangerous for users, that is, those that share our location with third parties. Apple automatically deletes applications of this kind from the AppStore and tells developers that their applications violate the regulation regarding the functions that applications can have.
Apple sends developers the fact that the applications violate articles 5.1.1 and 5.1.2 of the regulation regarding the publication of applications in the AppStore, so they must be modified. These articles talk about the fact that applications should not transmit to third parties information regarding the location of users without them knowing, so many applications should be deleted.
Apple asks the developers to delete any kind of code from the applications that transmits information about the users' location to third parties, without them knowing, and then the applications can be resubmitted for publication. The change in the application publishing policy is most likely related to the new European GDPR regulations, so it is possible that other types of applications will also disappear from the store.
"The app transmits user location data to third parties without explicit consent from the user and for unapproved purposes. You may not use or transmit someone's personal data without first obtaining their permission and providing access to information about how and where the data will be used. Data collected from apps may not be used or shared with third parties for purposes unrelated to improving the user experience or software/hardware performance connected to the app's functionality."
Although the actions of Apple are worthy of all praise, they still come much too late compared to what the Americans should have done with the AppStore applications. Apps like Facebook, UBER and many others have been stealing information about our location for years and years without Apple doing anything, but suddenly the company thought it had to be tougher with such practices.
