Apple delays debut of anti-tracking tool in iPhone software

Apple is delaying a new privacy feature in the next version of its iPhone operating system that will make it more difficult for app makers to track people online to help sell digital ads.

The decision outlined on Thursday affects iOS 14, which is expected to be released as a free software upgrade to roughly a billion iPhone users later this month.

Apple intended iOS 14 to automatically block tracking as soon as it came out, but the company now says it will hold back the tool until early next year.