Google takes a page out of Apple’s playbook with new Privacy Sandbox feature
Last year, Apple introduced changes to iOS that basically enhanced user privacy at the expense of the advertising revenue of companies like Meta. Basically, Apple gave users the option to stop apps from tracking them and their activities across the web.
It was a good thing to do, but many advertisers weren’t thrilled by it. In fact, Meta claims to have lost as much as $10 billion as a result of those changes.
Hoping to capitalize on Apple’s mistakes and maybe try to court a few more advertisers to their side, Google has since announced their own plans to implement a Privacy Sandbox on Android, but stated on their blog that they would be taking a less “blunt approach” to it. According to Google:
“We believe that — without first providing a privacy-preserving alternative path — such approaches can be ineffective and lead to worse outcomes for user privacy and developer businesses.
Our goal with the Privacy Sandbox on Android is to develop effective and privacy enhancing advertising solutions, where users know their information is protected, and developers and businesses have the tools to succeed on mobile.”
Google says that they will be introducing these privacy changes over time and will also share their design proposals on their website where developers can offer feedback, with a beta planned by the end of the year.
Until then, Google says that they will continue to support the current advertising identifiers for the next two years, giving companies time to adapt and implement any changes.
Source: Google