Apple has agreed to modify its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) consent screens for apps distributed in the EU, allowing developers to use less alarming interfaces. The new screens, which will be displayed as full-page prompts, will also include modified formatting, language, and an option to link out to additional information.

The change is a result of a multi-year antitrust probe by Germany’s federal competition regulator and others, which found that the current system favored Apple over third-party apps. Apple will now allow developers to use alternative screens in Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and Romania, although legal requirements mean that only the alternative version will be available in Germany.

The move comes as a relief to app developers, who have long complained that the original ATT prompts are too intimidating for users. User responses typically involve declining tracking, which hurts businesses that rely on personalized advertising. Apple argues that its own apps are exempt, claiming that the consent screens help protect consumer privacy.

However, the company will now allow app developers to re-prompt EU users one year after their previous choice in their ATT consent screen. This change could impact the ad-supported business model, particularly for companies like Meta, which rely heavily on user data for targeted advertising.

While it remains to be seen whether this move will set a precedent for other tech giants, it does mark a potential shift towards a more user-friendly digital landscape—or perhaps just a softer way to nudge users into accepting privacy terms.