DeviceActivityMonitor can't detect private browsing

Question

charleswinston OP

Created Mar ’23

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It seems like private browsing is undetectable with DeviceActivityMonitor for two reasons:

Specific web domains do not cause the monitoring threshold callback functions to fire, due to the privacy setting
Safari is not able to be monitored as an app or a category. It doesn't appear in the FamilyActivityPicker, and it doesn't appear to belong to any Screen Time category when viewing Safari's information in Screen Time Settings

Is there any way to monitor device activity during private browsing? If not, that seems like a big problem for apps that allow parents to set device activity limits for their kids.

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Answer 1

Frameworks Engineer OP

Apple

Mar ’23

Specific web domains do not cause the monitoring threshold callback functions to fire, due to the privacy setting

Yes, that is intentional in order to preserve the user's privacy.

Safari is not able to be monitored as an app or a category. It doesn't appear in the FamilyActivityPicker, and it doesn't appear to belong to any Screen Time category when viewing Safari's information in Screen Time Settings

Safari should appear in the picker in iOS 16.4 beta (20E5212f) and later by using the search bar.

Is there any way to monitor device activity during private browsing? If not, that seems like a big problem for apps that allow parents to set device activity limits for their kids.

No, but a possible workaround (besides using the picker to shield Safari) is to have parents enable Screen Time for their child and set a Screen Time passcode (this will prevent the child from being able to use Private Browsing mode in Safari). Please file an enhancement request using Feedback Assistant for API to prevent parentally managed children from using private browsing mode in Safari. Thanks in advance!

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