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Germany Tests Apple’s Revised App Tracking Rules in Antitrust Review

The regulator is running a market test to assess proposed neutral consent prompts.

An Apple logo appears in this illustration taken August 25, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Overview

  • Apple agreed to change the text and formatting of App Tracking Transparency prompts and to align wording, content, and visual design for its own services and third‑party apps.
  • The Bundeskartellamt is seeking feedback from publishers, media groups, and regulators to evaluate whether the changes address competition concerns.
  • Germany’s federal data protection commissioner and Bavaria’s data protection authority are participating in the assessment.
  • Apple’s approach to advertising attribution without prior user consent remains outside the proposal and will be examined for potential disadvantages to third‑party providers.
  • The case proceeds under Section 19a of German law and Article 102 TFEU in coordination with the European Commission, with a final decision to follow the market test.