Template:iOS Privacy and Opt-Out

Privacy and Opt-Out

There are two primary methods for implementing user Opt-out preferences:

1. OS-level Opt-out - managed by AppTracking or Limit Ad Tracking setting on device (preferred approach).
2. User Choice - Direct call to SDK. Can be used without the Ad Framework

OS-level Opt-out

OS-level Opt-out method available on Nielsen iOS

The Nielsen SDK automatically leverages the iOS's Limit Ad Tracking or AppTracking setting.

• If the User's device is running < iOS 13.x, the Nielsen SDK will check the status of Limit Ad Tracking (Located under Privacy >> Advertising). If this is enabled, the user will be opted out of demographic measurement.
• iOS14 modifies the way apple manages the collection of a User's Opt-In status through AppTracking. Starting with Version 8.x+, the Nielsen App SDK will check the iOS version during initialization. If the device is running iOS12 or iOS13, the Limit Ad Tracking setting is requested. If iOS14.x +, then AppTracking is utilized.
  • If using the Nielsen SDK V7 on a device running iOS14, the value returned will always be isAdvertisingTrackingEnabled = true opting out the user from demographic measurement.
  • Apple are currently not requiring publishers to secure consent from the user. This means if the AppTracking Setting is either notDetermined or approved, the User is Opted in.

• Limit Ad Tracking is managed using the isAdvertisingTrackingEnabled value.

Value Returned in iOS12 / iOS13 using Nielsen SDK < V7.x	Opt in/out Status
isAdvertisingTrackingEnabled = false	user will be included in demographic measurement.
isAdvertisingTrackingEnabled = true	user will NOT be included in demographic measurement.

• AppTracking is managed using the AppTrackingTransparency framework. If the value returned when checked is:

Value Returned is iOS14 using Nielsen SDK > V8.x	Opt in/out Status
ATTrackingManager.AuthorizationStatus.authorized ATTrackingManager.AuthorizationStatus.notDeterminded	user will be included in demographic measurement.
ATTrackingManager.AuthorizationStatus.denied ATTrackingManager.AuthorizationStatus.restricted	then the user will NOT be included in demographic measurement.

The user is opted out of demographic measurement if the OS-level Limit Ad Tracking setting is enabled, or AppTracking value equals denied or restricted. As a publisher, you cannot override this setting.

User Choice

The User Choice method can be used without the Ad Framework, or in situations where the publisher does not wish to use the App Tracking Transparency Framework.

The User Choice opt-out method works as follows:

• Get the Nielsen opt-out URL via optOutURL
• Display a WebView element whose loadUrl is set to the value obtained from optOutURL
• Detect if the WebView URL changes to a special URL that indicates Opt-in, or Opt-out and close the WebView
  • Opt-out if the WebView URL = nielsenappsdk://1
  • Opt-in if the WebView URL = nielsenappsdk://0
• Pass the detected URL to the userOptOut function
  • Example:

    NielsenAppApi?.userOptOut("nielsenappsdk://1"); // User opt-out
    

Legacy Opt-out example code

Swift

var webView: WKWebView!
var NIELSEN_URL_OPT_OUT : String = "nielsenappsdk://1"
var NIELSEN_URL_OPT_IN : String = "nielsenappsdk://0"

func webView(_ webView: WKWebView, decidePolicyFor navigationAction: WKNavigationAction, decisionHandler: @escaping (WKNavigationActionPolicy) -> Void) {

       let urlStr = navigationAction.request.url?.absoluteString

        if(urlStr == NIELSEN_URL_OPT_OUT || urlStr == NIELSEN_URL_OPT_IN){
            let appApi = self.nielsenApi
            appApi?.userOptOut(urlStr)
            decisionHandler(.allow)

        }else{
           decisionHandler(.cancel)
        }
    }

Objective C

- (void)webView:(WKWebView *)webView decidePolicyForNavigationAction:(WKNavigationAction *)navigationAction decisionHandler:(void (^)(WKNavigationActionPolicy))decisionHandler {

    NSURLRequest *request = [navigationAction request];
    NSString *url = [[request URL]absoluteString];
    
    if([url isEqualToString:self.NIELSEN_URL_OPT_OUT] || [url isEqualToString:self.NIELSEN_URL_OPT_IN]){
        [self.nielsenApi userOptOut:url];
        decisionHandler(WKNavigationActionPolicyAllow);
    }else{
        decisionHandler(WKNavigationActionPolicyCancel);
    }        
}

Retrieve current Opt-Out preference

Whether the user is opted out via OS-level Opt-out or via User Choice Opt-out, the current Opt-Out status as detected by the SDK is available via the optOutStatus property in the Nielsen SDK API

Required Privacy Links

Users must either have access to the "About Nielsen Measurement" page, or have similar text available within the native app. Include "About Nielsen Measurement" and "Your Choices" link in the Privacy Policy / EULA or as a button near the link to the app's Privacy Policy.

In addition, the following text must be included in your app store description.

"Please note: This app features Nielsen’s proprietary measurement software which contributes to market research, like Nielsen’s TV Ratings. Please see https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/legal/privacy-statement/digital-measurement/ for more information"