Apple Rolls Out GDPR-like Features for U.S. Users

New privacy rules allow U.S. customers to download all information Apple has on them, plus it adopts new transparency practices, essentially mirroring practices in the EU. When Europe’s GDPR (General Data Privacy Regulation) took effect in May 2018, Apple promised its users in other areas, notably the U.S., that it would provide similar services this year. That time has come. As of Oct. 17, Apple customers can download the data that Apple has on them simply by asking, just like Apple customers in Europe have been able to do since May, Apple also has been tightening its privacy restrictions in other areas, such as by requiring all its developers to have a privacy policy that can be shared with customers. The company is tightening restrictions on the information developers can obtain from devices, and the company has tightened the rules under which it will share data after receiving a government request or a court order.