Apple · Apple App Store Review Guidelines

Prohibition on Device Fingerprinting

High severity
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What it is

Collecting data in order to derive a unique identifier for the device is not permitted. Examples of this are: BSSID, SSID, wireless network information, Bluetooth signals, locally shared objects, advertising cookies, and other persistent identifiers.

Why it matters

Device fingerprinting is a covert tracking technique that circumvents user privacy choices; Apple's explicit prohibition is one of the strongest anti-fingerprinting stances by any major platform and directly protects users who have opted out of tracking.

Consumer impact

Apple's App Review Guidelines directly affect what apps consumers can access, what data those apps may collect, and how they can pay for digital content — Apple's mandatory in-app purchase requirement means app developers cannot offer cheaper prices through external payment links on iOS. Consumers benefit from Apple's content and privacy review standards, which prohibit apps from collecting data beyond declared purposes and require age-gating for adult content, but have no direct appeal mechanism if Apple removes an app they rely upon. You can review an app's declared data practices by checking the App Privacy section on any App Store listing before downloading.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    Device fingerprinting as a covert tracking mechanism that circumvents user consent constitutes an unfair or deceptive practice subject to FTC Act Section 5 enforcement.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Apple App Store Review Guidelines
Entity
Apple
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 6, 2026
Last verified
April 4, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-001969
Document ID
CA-D-00025
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
877541265fefdbebabcd1e30fe9651433f6b1dd3064ee4d811f9f9918e043f98
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Apple | Document: Apple App Store Review Guidelines | Record: CA-P-001969
Captured: 2026-03-06 20:15:42 UTC | SHA-256: 877541265fefdbeb…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/apple/apple-app-store-review-guidelines/prohibition-on-device-fingerprinting/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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