Help with iOS ATT, AdMob iOS SDK

[Jeffrey Blayney]

Hey folks, 

I have an iOS app in 27 countries, and had some (hopefully not too dumb) questions!

Is it possible to put AdMob in my app without implementing the Apple ATT prompt? For example, I don't know when the AdMob SDK uses IDFA, and when it doesn't. The documentation has been very confusing here too and lacks specificity. For example, in this article, the title "Decide whether Apple's ATT prompt is right for your app" - seems to indicate that the ATT prompt is optional. This IS NOT the case, it is required if IDFA is used, and I have no idea when the AdMob SDK uses IDFA and when it doesn't! Perhaps Non-Personalized ads don't use IDFA, I dunno.. So does AdMob conditionally use IDFA or not?

Also.. my app doesn't directly collect info on location, the user, etc. It would only be what AdMob collects for the purpose of ads, so I'm not sure if I need to disclose everything AdMob collects too or not. 

Sages, thank you for any of your wisdom you can impart on my dumb a**. 

Best,

Jeff

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi Jeff,

Thank you for contacting the Mobile Ads SDK support team.

No worries, your questions are common concerns for developers with AdMob on iOS after the introduction of App Tracking Transparency (ATT). Here's a breakdown:

ATT Prompt and AdMob:

• You cannot avoid the ATT prompt entirely if you're using AdMob for iOS 14.5 and later.
• The prompt is mandatory whenever AdMob uses the IDFA (Identifier for Advertisers) for ad targeting.
• Non-personalized ads in AdMob don't necessarily avoid IDFA. Apple requires the prompt even if you request non-personalized ads because they can't verify your implementation.

Here's how to navigate this:

1. Implement the ATT prompt: It's best to follow Apple's guidelines and include the prompt. 
2. Request Non-personalized Ads (Optional): If the user partially consent or does not consent, limited ads (non-personalized ads) will still be served. It's up to the publishers to decide app functionality based on a user's consent status. Our team cannot give advice or comment on the Google Play services policies or the legal requirements I'm afraid.

Data Disclosure:

• You only need to disclose the data your app collects. AdMob has its own privacy policy that details what data AdMob collects for ad purposes: 
• In your app's privacy policy, you can mention that you use AdMob and link to their policy for details on ad-related data collection.

Remember, following Apple's guidelines and being transparent with users is crucial for a smooth app review process. Don't hesitate to consult the resources provided for further clarification.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
 

This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!5004Q02tJF3E:ref" (ADR-00238795)

Thanks,
 

Mobile Ads SDK Team