Apple is being investigated by a regulator in Poland over App Tracking Transparency for iOS, with the privacy initiative being called potentially anti-competitive.
The introduction of App Tracking Transparency to iOS has helped improve the privacy of Apple’s users, by reducing the amount of data third-party firms can collect from apps. While it has received criticism from advertising-centric companies and the industry at large, it is now being probed by a regulator over competition fears.
Polish antimonopoly watchdog UOKiK announced the investigation into Apple, looking into the ATT rules relating to privacy and personal data processing, to determine if it violates competition law. According to the regulator, the rules considerably reduced the ability for third-party apps to get hold of data about the user, which could be used to serve targeted ads.
“We want to examine whether Apple’s actions may be aimed at eliminating competitors in the market for personalized advertising services, the objective being to better sell their own service” said UOKiK president Tomasz Chrostny. “We will investigate whether this is a case of exclusionary abuse of market power.”
Apple has previously been accused of using its privacy claims to increase its profits, while at the same time costing advertisers billions in revenue. At the same time, Apple’s own in-house advertising arm is thought to be enjoying more revenue as a result, with analysts forecasting 2021 advertising revenues of $5 billion, rising to $20 billion within three years.
Featured News
FCC Set to Reinstate Net Neutrality Rules Today
Apr 25, 2024 by
CPI
Chamber of Commerce Sues to Overturn FTC Non-Compete Ban
Apr 24, 2024 by
CPI
FTC Chief Warns of Healthcare Price Fixing Risks Amid Tech Advancements
Apr 24, 2024 by
CPI
Amazon’s Investment in Anthropic Faces Antitrust Scrutiny
Apr 24, 2024 by
CPI
Italian Antitrust Authority Fines Amazon €10 Million for Unfair Trade Practices
Apr 24, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI