Apple’s new data privacy tools will “shut down” the ability of social networks such as Facebook to track users on the web.
The technology giant has unveiled new features in its web browser Safari that will block Like and Share buttons that can be used by social media platforms to monitor web users.
The announcement comes as Facebook is facing new scrutiny over data privacy after a New York Times report claimed it had allowed third parties to access some data from the platform without user consent.
Facebook has said it disagrees with the report but the claims have raised new questions around online data privacy.
Speaking at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in San Jose, software boss Craig Federighi said the firm was placing tighter controls on social media’s access to data.
“We’ve all seen these Like buttons, and Share buttons and these comment fields. Well, it turns out these can be used to track you, whether you click on them or not,” he said.
“And so this year we are shutting that down”.
Mr Federighi said Safari users would now see an alert appear asking users to choose if they would like to share their data.
During the on-stage demonstration of the new tools, Facebook was used as an example of a site asking to monitor user activity.
The two technology giants have clashed over data in the past, with Apple chief executive Tim Cook calling Facebook’s data use an “invasion of privacy”, an idea Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg called “extremely glib”.
Technology analyst Ben Wood from CCS Insight said the updates were Apple’s way of setting itself apart from other firms on data security.
“It’s a smart move for Apple to reflect the current concerns around security and privacy with new tools to prevent web companies from actively tracking your browsing activity,” he said.
“Although it will be largely transparent to most consumers, it will help further Apple’s efforts to differentiate its products from rivals with strong security credentials.”
At WWDC, Mr Federighi also revealed Apple was increasing its data protection features so that any apps that ask to use a Mac’s camera or microphone will need permission from the user.
Apple also said it would start to restrict the data shared online from a device that can be used to identify it – such as the plug-ins and other system configuration features which can be used to single out a device as belonging to a certain user – a process known as fingerprinting.
The result would make most Macs look identical, making it harder for individual devices to be identified, Apple said.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here