Apple moves to block Facebook tracking

New operating systems include methods to stop social media platform tracking users

Apple software chief Craig Federighi reveals move to block Facebook tracking
Apple’s head of software, Craig Federighi, unveils plans to block Facebook tracking
(Image credit: 2018 Getty Images)

Apple has revealed plans to prevent Facebook from using data tracking to follow users around the web.

The company’s software chief Craig Federighi showed off the new anti-tracking feature at its annual World Wide Developers Conference conference in San Jose, California, last night.

“We’ve all seen these like buttons and share buttons and these comment fields,” Federighi said. “Well it turns out these can be used to track you, whether you click on them or not. We’re shutting that down.”

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

The new feature, which will be available in the next version of Apple’s iOS and Mac operating systems, will prompt users to decide whether they will allow Facebook to use cookies and other data while browsing.

Apple’s move against Facebook “is likely to add to tensions between the two companies”, says the BBC.

Explore More