icloudkitApple today told developers that it is offering a set of tools to help them fulfill data requests made by users in the European Union or other places around the world to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that goes into effect in May.

Following the implementation of the GDPR developers will need to comply with customer requests for accessing, managing, restricting, and deleting data. To facilitate this, Apple says developers can let users manage data that's associated with an app and stored in iCloud by using native APIs and Web APIs.

You can let users manage data that's associated with your app and stored in iCloud by using native APIs and Web APIs.

Providing User Access to CloudKit Data
Give users access to the data stored by your app on their behalf.
When a user requests a copy of the data associated with their Apple ID, it includes only the data that Apple maintains directly, such as documents in iCloud Drive. Data stored in third-party CloudKit containers are not included in any export that Apple provides. Developers should provide their own method for users to get a copy of data stored in their CloudKit containers.

Responding to Requests to Delete Data
Provide options for users to delete their CloudKit data from your app.

Apple too will be implementing new features to comply with the new European regulations. Starting in Early May, the company will introduce an updated Apple ID website that will allow users to download all of their data stored with the company.

Apple also plans to allow customers to use the site to correct personal information, disable Apple ID accounts, and permanently delete an Apple ID. These tools will be available in Europe first before expanding to other areas of the world.

Top Rated Comments

lec0rsaire Avatar
102 months ago
Just like the EU came down on MS for including IE ensuring dominant market share, once again the world will benefit from EU regulation. Europe tends to look out and protect consumers a lot more than our bought off Congress which always looks the other way while corporations do what they want.

I think it’s great that we’ll be able to download everything Apple has. I wonder if I’ll find photos and documents that I deleted a while ago. While Apple is not as dependent on our personal data is Facebook and Google are, it’s still a good idea to keep them honest.

In fact, although some Google products are superior like Maps and Google’s assistant, I simply don’t use them because of the rampant data collection. I do exclusively use google as a search engine since they have the best product. Also gmail since I’ve had it since the invite only days and it revolutionized e-mail. I refuse to use Docs, Photos and Drive since I just don’t trust them with the contents of my hard drives. The only way to protect your data is to keep it local. I use iCloud for convenience but only for stuff that is not really sensitive. I would never upload my entire drive to iCloud either.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0947347 Avatar
102 months ago
Just like the EU came down on MS for including IE ensuring dominant market share, once again the world will benefit from EU regulation. Europe tends to look out and protect consumers a lot more than our bought off Congress which always looks the other way while corporations do what they want.

I think it’s great that we’ll be able to download everything Apple has. I wonder if I’ll find photos and documents that I deleted a while ago. While Apple is not as dependent on our personal data is Facebook and Google are, it’s still a good idea to keep them honest.

In fact, although some Google products are superior like Maps and Google’s assistant, I simply don’t use them because of the rampant data collection. I do exclusively use google as a search engine since they have the best product. Also gmail since I’ve had it since the invite only days and it revolutionized e-mail. I refuse to use Docs, Photos and Drive since I just don’t trust them with the contents of my hard drives. The only way to protect your data is to keep it local. I use iCloud for convenience but only for stuff that is not really sensitive. I would never upload my entire drive to iCloud either.
While back, I also thought that google search engine was the best.

But now I use DuckDuckGo and never look back. For my privacy concerns and my needs, there is probably nothing better
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
britboyj Avatar
102 months ago
I'm one for privacy, and the GDPR's intentions are noble on its face, but the incredibly vague language and requirements are going to drive a huge number of websites and app makers out of business. If your favourite app or website is ad supported, expect it to hit some very rough times ahead.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0947347 Avatar
102 months ago
You can use Google search without all the Google crap, use https://www.startpage.com
One learn something new every day.
Thank you for that.

Anyway
I also like the DuckDuckGo for the layout
and ease of change of background colour

Edit: screenshot added

Attachment Image
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
foobarbaz Avatar
102 months ago
Just like the EU came down on MS for including IE ensuring dominant market share, once again the world will benefit from EU regulation.
Aside from a weird unbundled version they sold in Europe, the EU didn't really affect IE dominance.
What's killing IE is another monopolist using their dominant market share to push their browser at every possibility. You might call it poetic justice, but I think it's just more of the same problem …

But otherwise I agree. So far companies didn't have a reason not to just collect everything just in case they need it. Now they have a reason, and maybe that's enough to make some people consider their practices.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
simonmet Avatar
102 months ago
They never did. E-Mail has been around for 30 years and never needed any Google treatment.

Just like WhatsApp "revolutionised" messengers. They were readily available on all platforms. Here comes WhatsApp, limits use to a friggin phone, makes you upload your number and those of all people you know to their servers, shares it with Facebook and lo and behold, it's all the rage. Senseless, mindless hype is all it is.
That was my point in asking the rhetorical question. :)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

10 Reasons to Wait for This Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Thursday January 8, 2026 2:56 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
samsung crease less foldable display ces 2026%402x

Foldable iPhone's Crease-Free Display Tech Spotted at CES 2026

Tuesday January 6, 2026 3:04 am PST by
CES 2026 has just provided a first glimpse of the folding display technology that Apple is expected to use in its upcoming foldable iPhone. At the event, Samsung Display briefly showcased its new crease-less foldable OLED panel beside a Galaxy Z Fold 7, and according to SamMobile, which saw the test booth before it was abruptly removed, the new panel "has no crease at all" in comparison. The ...
iOS 27 Mock Quick

Five New iPhone Features Rumored for iOS 27

Wednesday January 7, 2026 2:51 pm PST by
Though it's been just a few months since iOS 26 launched, we're already hearing rumors about the next-generation version of iOS, iOS 27. iOS 27 will be introduced at Apple's June WWDC 2026 event before it launches in September 2026. We don't know all of the details about iOS 27 yet, but we do have some information about what to expect. "Snow Leopard" Update iOS 27 will apparently focus...
Apple Card iPhone 16 Pro Feature

Apple Card Will Move From Goldman Sachs to JPMorgan Chase

Wednesday January 7, 2026 12:57 pm PST by
JPMorgan Chase has reached a deal to take over operation of the Apple Card, reports The Wall Street Journal. Barring any "last minute hiccups," the deal should be announced shortly after over a year of negotiations. Reports began circulating over two years ago that current Apple Card issuer Goldman Sachs was looking to end its partnership with Apple as part of an effort to scale back on...
Logitech MX Master 3S

Logitech Blames 'Inexcusable Mistake' After Certificate Expiry Breaks macOS Apps

Wednesday January 7, 2026 5:27 am PST by
Logitech users on macOS found themselves locked out of their mouse customizations yesterday after the company let a security certificate expire, breaking both its Logi Options+ and G HUB configuration apps. Logitech devices like its MX Master series mice and MX Keys keyboards stopped working properly as a result of the oversight, with users unable to access their custom scrolling setup,...
Touchscreen MacBook Feature

Apple Is Expected to Launch These Four MacBooks in 2026

Friday January 9, 2026 8:17 am PST by
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next ...
ChatGPT Health Integration Connectors Feature

OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Health With Apple Health Integration

Wednesday January 7, 2026 11:27 am PST by
OpenAI today announced the launch of ChatGPT Health, a dedicated section of ChatGPT where users can ask health-related questions completely separated from their main ChatGPT experience. For more personalized responses, users can connect various health data services such as Apple Health, Function, MyFitnessPal, Weight Watchers, AllTrails, Instacart, and Peloton. Last month, MacRumors discovere...
safari icon blue banner

Apple Loses Safari Lead Designer to The Browser Company

Thursday January 8, 2026 10:50 am PST by
Apple has lost another senior figure from its Safari team as a lead designer departs for The Browser Company, extending a pattern of high-profile exits from Apple's browser team amid intensifying competition around AI-driven browsing. Marco Triverio was a lead designer for Safari and has now joined The Browser Company, the developer of the Arc and Dia browsers. The move was confirmed by The...