Apple rolled out updated App Review Guidelines Thursday that require developers to explicitly disclose when they’re sharing your personal information with third-party artificial intelligence services — and get your permission first.
New Apple rules keep apps from sending data to third-party AI
The App Review Guidelines changes come as Apple prepares to launch a major upgrade to Siri in 2026. It will reportedly use Google’s Gemini AI to help the voice assistant perform actions across different apps on your device. As Apple integrates AI more deeply into its own ecosystem, it simultaneously tightens restrictions on how other apps can share your data with AI providers. The updates reflect Apple’s ongoing effort to balance AI innovation with its longstanding commitment to user privacy and data protection.
What’s changed in the guidelines
The updated version of guideline 5.1.2(i) now includes specific language about AI services. Previously, the rule required apps to disclose data sharing practices and obtain user consent before transmitting personal information to third parties. The new version adds a crucial clarification: “You must clearly disclose where personal data will be shared with third parties, including with third-party AI, and obtain explicit permission before doing so.”
This marks the first time Apple has specifically called out AI companies in its App Store policies. That suggests the company views AI providers as requiring the same level of scrutiny as other sensitive data handlers.
What this means for your apps
The new rule will impact apps that use AI systems to collect or process your information, whether for personalization features or core functionality. This could include apps using large language models, cloud-based AI analysis or machine learning algorithms.
However, there’s still uncertainty about enforcement. Apple hasn’t clarified exactly which AI technologies fall under this requirement. The term “AI” could encompass everything from sophisticated cloud-based language models to simple on-device machine learning features. How strictly Apple enforces this rule remains to be seen.
Apps that fail to comply with these guidelines can be removed from the App Store. The policy helps Apple maintain compliance with privacy regulations like the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and California’s Consumer Privacy Act.
Other guideline updates
Beyond AI-related changes, Apple also updated rules supporting its new Mini Apps Program. It made adjustments to policies for creator and loan apps. It also added cryptocurrency exchanges to the list of apps operating in highly regulated fields.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
