According to online sources, Snap, the developer of the popular Snapchat messenger, is looking at ways to circumvent Apple’s new privacy policies that prohibit the collection of user data without their consent. The Financial Times writes about this with reference to its own informed sources.

The report says that Snap is studying methods of tracking user behavior using data received from third parties, that is, third-party companies. Matching this information with its own user database should enable the company to identify users and collect data about their behavior.

This information comes as Apple prepares to roll out a new privacy policy, which will require developers of apps published in the App Store to obtain explicit permission from users to collect data. App developers who refuse to make the appropriate changes to their products will simply be removed from Apple’s digital content store. These changes are expected to have a profound impact on the digital advertising market, which currently relies heavily on tracking user behavior in apps and websites to serve targeted ads.     

Snap confirmed that the company is investigating third-party tracking of user activity, noting that the Snapchat app will comply with Apple’s new privacy policy once it takes effect. It’s worth noting that Snap isn’t alone looking for ways to circumvent Apple’s changed policies. According to reports, ByteDance, the developer of the popular short video service TikTok, has tested algorithms that will track user activity in China even after Apple’s new rules go into effect.