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The window that apps use to request permission for ad tracking is getting a second version. With iOS 27.2, app providers can use it throughout the EU; in Germany and four other countries, this is the only version available. This change goes further than was foreseeable in August.
Apple announced in a message to developers on September 16th that it is changing the framework for app tracking transparency in the EU. This is based on agreements with several European competition authorities. Starting with iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, an alternative version of the system query is available on iPhones and iPads.
In August, Apple promised the German Federal Cartel Office that it would redesign the tracking query in Germany – without a warning hand and without the word "Tracking" in the window, with a longer explanatory text from the app providers.
Key Facts at a Glance
- With iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, there is an alternative version of the tracking query for the EU.
- In Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Romania, only this version is permitted.
- In other EU countries, including Austria, the app provider decides which version is released.
- The time when an app needs to ask for permission does not change.
What changes in the query
According to Apple's developer page on data privacy and usage, the alternative version has a modified design and wording. A new feature is an optional text button for additional information. This allows an app to explain why it intends to link data with that of other companies or share it with data brokers.
The underlying rules remain the same. An app still needs consent before it can track users for advertising across other companies' apps and websites. What's new, however, is that providers in the EU are now allowed to ask again one year after the last decision, regardless of whether consent was given or denied at the time.
One country becomes five
The restructuring was previously a German matter. The commitments made to the Federal Cartel Office applied only to Germany; other markets were not covered. Apple now speaks of agreements with several competition authorities and names five countries where the new inquiry is legally mandatory.
| Region | Tracking query from iOS 27.2 onwards |
|---|---|
| Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Romania | only the alternative version |
| Other EU countries, including Austria | Choosing an app provider |
| Switzerland | outside the EU, not covered |
What the new regulation changes in everyday life
iPhone users in Germany will see the new tracking window for every app that requests permission after updating to iOS 27.2. In Austria, it depends on the individual app, so both versions may appear side by side.
More noticeable than the visual changes will likely be the one-year time limit. If you've denied an app tracking permission, it can request it again after twelve months. The system-wide setting to completely disable tracking requests remains available.
Would a more neutral query with more explanatory text make you more likely to agree, or would you stick to declining even if the app asks again after a year? Let us know in the comments how you decide regarding tracking.
