Apple has confirmed changes to its system Transparency Tracking App (ATT) for the European Union, the result of agreements reached with several European competition authorities. From iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2developers will be able to display an alternative version of the tracking permission notice on your iPhone or iPad, although the obligation to ask for your consent before tracking you remains intact.
Let's see what the change consists of, because it does not touch the bottom of the norm. If an app wants to link your data with data collected by other companies for targeted advertising or to share with data brokers, it will still need your explicit permission. What varies is the way in which this permission is requested: Apple offers developers a second notice template, with a different format and language than the one you see today on your screen.
The centerpiece of this alternate version is a text button labeled “Additional information”. With it, apps can expand, within the system notice itself, the details about why they want to link the data they collect on your device with that collected by other companies in their apps, websites or offline services, either for the purposes of targeted advertising or advertising measurement.
This gives developers more leeway to justify their request without exiting the system pop-up, something that the standard ATT prompt did not allow until now. However, the decision to accept or reject is still only in your hands, as has been the case since Apple introduced this framework with iOS 14.5. We tell you that neither the system icon nor the main “Allow” or “Do not allow” buttons change: the difference is limited to the expanded text and that additional button.
Mandatory in five countries, optional in the rest of the EU
Not all countries in the European Union receive the change in the same way. Due to specific legal requirements, in Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Romania The alternative version of the notice will be the only one available: developers will not be able to choose the standard format for the apps they distribute in these five markets.
In the rest of the countries of the European Union, Spain included, developers will have the option to choose between the traditional ATT notice and this new alternative. Therefore, what you see on the screen will depend on what format each application chooses, not on a single imposition for the entire region. If you use several apps daily, you may find yourself with both formats coexisting on your own iPhone, depending on which developer has chosen each version.
How tracking permission works today in any country
The ATT framework has been active since iOS 14.5iPadOS 14.5 and tvOS 14.5, and forces any app that wants to access your device's advertising identifier to first display a system notice. Along with this notice, the developer must include a text string (purpose string) that explains what they are going to use your data for, so that you understand what you are giving access to before accepting.
If you allow apps to ask to track you generally in your Settings, but you've blocked tracking for a specific app, that app may offer you a shortcut to the Settings screen so you can change your decision whenever you want. This mechanism does not change with the arrival of the alternative notice in the European Union, nor does the behavior of the advertising identifier change if you reject permission: it will continue to return a value consisting only of zeros.
Which privacy requirements remain unchanged
Apple insists that the requirements for when to ask permission to track do not change with this update. Tracking is still defined as linking the data your app collects with that of other companies, apps, websites or offline properties for the purposes of targeted advertising, advertising measurement, or to share it with data intermediaries.
The vendor identifier (IDFV), which is used for analytics between apps from the same developer, still does not require the ATT framework, although it cannot be combined with other data to track your activity between apps and websites from other companies. The option to show the alternative notice will arrive natively with the launch of iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2without additional steps on the part of the developer beyond activating it in their app.
App Tracking Transparency EU FAQ Apple will introduce it starting with iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2.
In Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Romania, due to specific legal requirements. In the rest of the European Union it will be optional for developers.
It allows apps to expand, within the notice itself, the details about why they want to link your data with that of other companies for advertising or measurement.
No. Apple maintains the same criteria for when an app must ask for your consent to track you.
When does the new App Tracking Transparency notice arrive in the EU?
In which countries will the alternative version of the notice be mandatory?
What does the 'Additional information' button add?
Do the requirements to request tracking permission change?
