Apple has always been known for its strict App Store policies, which have garnered both praise and criticism from developers. In their latest move to enhance user privacy, Apple has announced that developers must justify their usage of specific Apple APIs before their apps can be listed on the App Store. This measure aims to limit apps from tracking user data without adequate reasons.
To achieve this, Apple is introducing a new category of APIs known as “required reason APIs.” These APIs have the potential for misuse in tracking user data through fingerprinting techniques. As a result, developers will be required to explain the purpose of using these APIs in their app’s privacy manifest file. The deadline for updating the privacy manifest file is set for Fall 2023, and any app using a required reason API without providing a valid explanation will face rejection from the App Store.
The implementation of these changes will commence in Fall 2023, coinciding with the release of iOS 17, tvOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS Sonoma. Developers will receive notifications about submitting apps that use a Required Reason API without proper justification. From Fall 2024 onwards, Apple will begin rejecting apps that fail to provide a valid explanation for their use of these APIs.
While these new requirements are aimed at bolstering user privacy, they might lead to an increase in the number of app rejections. However, by requiring developers to clarify their need for accessing sensitive data, Apple aims to ensure that apps only utilize such data when it is genuinely essential.
