iOS 12.2 Could Block Web Access To iPhone’s Motion Sensors

Apple has been steadily building privacy-related features into its Safari browser on mobile. For example previously they had built in protection that prevented users from being tracked across websites, much to the dismay of many advertisers, and it looks like an upcoming feature in iOS 12.2 could further annoy advertisers.

It seems that in the iOS 12.2 beta, Apple could be considering preventing websites from accessing the iPhone’s motion sensors. This is said to be based on a report from WIRED last year in which it was revealed that websites can actually tap into your mobile device’s sensors without your permission.

By preventing websites from accessing sensors like the accelerometer and gyroscope, it would put an end to that practice. However it seems that it won’t be a complete block as websites can request for permission to access the sensors, so it will be up to the user to decide whether or not the permission is warranted. For example if you’re on a website looking for recipes, there really is no need to access your phone’s accelerometer or gyroscope.

However there are some who have expressed concern about this as it could potentially affect companies who might choose not to buy AR or VR-based ads which will rely on these sensors.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Apple, Cellphones
Tags: iOS, iOS 12, iPhone