Apple · Apple App Store Review Guidelines · View original document ↗

Prohibition on Device Fingerprinting

High severity Unique · 0 of 325 platforms
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This analysis describes what Apple's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

This requirement establishes a technical constraint on app functionality by restricting fingerprinting methodologies that could enable cross-app device tracking. The provision operates as a condition of app acceptance and distribution through Apple's platform.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users of apps distributed through the App Store operate under terms where developers cannot employ device fingerprinting techniques to create persistent device identifiers. This limits the mechanisms available to apps for tracking individual devices across sessions and services.

How other platforms handle this

Anthropic Medium

Device and Connection Information. Consistent with your device or browser permissions, your device or browser automatically sends us information about when and how you install, access, or use our Services. This includes information such as your device type, operating system information, browser info...

Samsung Medium

We collect information about you from a variety of sources, including information you provide directly to us, information collected automatically from your devices and use of our Services, and information from other sources. The types of personal information we collect include: Identifiers such as n...

Roblox Medium

Your use of the Services is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Services, you consent to the data collection and use practices described in the Privacy Policy. Roblox collects information you provide directly, information collected a...

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
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.

— Excerpt from Apple's Apple App Store Review Guidelines

Applicable regulations

EU AI Act
European Union
BIPA
Illinois, USA
CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
COPPA
United States Federal
Connecticut Data Privacy Act Amendments
US-CT
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
DMA
European Union
ePrivacy Directive
European Union
FCRA
United States Federal
FTC Act Section 5
United States Federal
GDPR
European Union
GLBA
United States Federal
HIPAA
United States Federal
Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act
US-IN
Kentucky Consumer Data Protection Act
US-KY
TCPA
United States Federal
UK GDPR
United Kingdom
Universal Opt-Out Mechanism Expansion 2026
US

Provision details

Document information
Document
Apple App Store Review Guidelines
Entity
Apple
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 6, 2026
Last verified
April 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-001969
Document ID
CA-D-00025
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
877541265fefdbebabcd1e30fe9651433f6b1dd3064ee4d811f9f9918e043f98
Analysis generated
March 6, 2026 20:15 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Apple
Document: Apple App Store Review Guidelines
Record ID: 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: May 20, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Apple's Prohibition on Device Fingerprinting clause do?

This requirement establishes a technical constraint on app functionality by restricting fingerprinting methodologies that could enable cross-app device tracking. The provision operates as a condition of app acceptance and distribution through Apple's platform.

How does this clause affect you?

Users of apps distributed through the App Store operate under terms where developers cannot employ device fingerprinting techniques to create persistent device identifiers. This limits the mechanisms available to apps for tracking individual devices across sessions and services.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Apple?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Apple.