Apple Enforces App Tracking Transparency and iOS 14 SDK Next Week
Apple announces that all App Store submissions must support App Tracking Transparency and use the iOS 14 SDK starting April 26. This mandate indicates the highly anticipated iOS 14.5 update is imminent.
Apple informs developers that starting April 26, all App Store submissions for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch must be built with the Xcode 12 and iOS 14 SDK. This requirement eliminates the option to use older software development kits for new app updates. The deadline strongly suggests that the public release of iOS 14.5 happens either on that Monday or the day after.
Alongside the SDK update, Apple strictly enforces its App Tracking Transparency framework on the same date. Developers must use this system prompt to ask users for explicit permission before tracking their activity across other applications using the device's advertising identifier. If a user denies the request, the identifier defaults to all zeros and the app cannot track them.
These privacy rules also apply to other tracking methods that rely on personal information like names or email addresses. Developers are required to declare any such data collection in the App Store Privacy Information section and must include a clear purpose string explaining why they want to track the user. Apple is currently finalizing the software with the release of the iOS 14.5 release candidate.