Verified Confidence: high
Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.
Safe rephrasing
Apple requires apps on iOS 14.5 and later to get permission through App Tracking Transparency before tracking users across other companies' apps and sites or reading the advertising identifier.
What the source says
In iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, and tvOS 14.5 or later, you need to receive the user’s permission through the App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework in order to track them or access their device’s advertising identifier.
Apple Developer — User Privacy and Data Use
- Commonly cited as
- "iOS 14.5 killed the IDFA"
- True origin
- Apple Developer — User Privacy and Data Use
- Type
- Reference fact: A frequently needed number or rule taken directly from a primary source (e.g. Pew, Census, IAB/PwC, FTC), with its as-of date.
- Year
- iOS 14.5 (2021)
- Data as of
- Documentation read on 2026-10-17
- Last checked
- Method & sample
- Apple developer policy documentation.
- Drift between quote and source
- Tracking means linking app data with other companies' data for ads or sharing with data brokers
- Interest
- Apple sets App Store rules and runs its own ad business.