Comment by dylan604
5 months ago
Until the app's devs get wise to this, and do not allow the app to function without the network access. It could be as simple as a full screen, non-closable screen that says the app requires network access with a button to the proper setting to correct the issue.
Such "go away" screens are in violation of Apple's AppStore rules. You cannot make a permission a condition of using the app, and stop the user from using it if they don't grant that permission. The app should gracefully do as much as it possibly can without the permission.
Try signing in in any Google app without allowing data sharing with Safari. It's not possible. They don't let you.
It's kind of weird that Apple introduced this big fat tracking consent popup, but they don't really do anything to actually prevent cross-app tracking...
This holds for every app and every permission? Because I'm quite sure I recently used an app that closed for not allowing a permission. May be misremembering..
5.1.1 (iv) Access: Apps must respect the user’s permission settings and not attempt to manipulate, trick, or force people to consent to unnecessary data access. For example, apps that include the ability to post photos to a social network must not also require microphone access before allowing the user to upload photos. Where possible, provide alternative solutions for users who don’t grant consent. For example, if a user declines to share Location, offer the ability to manually enter an address.
https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/
This wording is actually a lot weaker than I remember it back when I wrote iOS apps. The developer also was not allowed to exit the app or close it against the user’s intent, however I can’t find that rule anymore.
2 replies →
You can't do this, because some users are genuinely offline sometimes.
Yeah like the ChatGPT app that doesn't work without a Google account. I have Google play on my phone, just no account logged in. I do have Google play services like firebase push which many apps legitimately need. But ChatGPT just opens the login screen in the play store and exits itself.
I'm always wondering why these idiots force the creation of an account with their direct competitor. It's the only app I have that does this. But anyway I don't use their app for that reason, only use them a bit through API.
It doesn't do that for me. There's a Google button, and then big sign up/log in buttons, and a non-Google email works fine.