Apple’s latest ad for the iPhone, titled “Privacy on iPhone, Flock,” is a clever and eerie take on the importance of privacy. With the haunting tune “Billathi Askara” by Björn Jason Lindh playing in the background, the ad depicts Android users being spied on by cameras that morph into birds and fly away.
The ad’s horror movie-like atmosphere features these mechanical camera birds swooping down on Android users, even those with phones resembling a Pixel handset, as they browse the web. The chilling scene intensifies when a camera bird crashes into an office window, emphasizing that no place is safe from these spying eyes.
These sinister camera birds perch on power lines, rooftops, and other typical bird hangouts. Some even resemble bats, hanging upside down with glowing red eyes, highlighting their menacing nature. The true terror, however, lies in what they symbolize: third-party trackers that follow Android users across websites and apps, collecting data for personalized ads.
Apple’s App Tracking Transparency feature empowers iPhone users to decide whether to allow trackers or block them on an app-by-app basis. If an iPhone user opts out, these trackers lose access to certain identifiers needed to track the user’s activity.
As night falls in the ad, camera birds swarm the city, and the message “Your browsing is being watched” appears on the screen. Scenes of Android users being stalked by these creatures follow, including a funny moment where a frightened fisherman throws his Android phone into the ocean.
The climax shows a woman in the city, surrounded by camera birds. She raises her iPhone, opens Safari, and the camera birds explode. Other iPhone users do the same, causing even more explosions. The message is crystal clear: if you want to avoid being tracked while browsing, switch to an iPhone. The ad concludes with the tagline: “Safari. A browser that’s actually private.”
This ad effectively drives home Apple’s point, making it clear why privacy-conscious users might prefer an iPhone. Expect to see this ad during your favorite prime-time TV shows and sporting events soon.
