Apps and privacy

The Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN), representing 26 privacy regulators from across the world, has surveyed over 1200 mobile apps to discover how they are using personal information.

Key findings:

• 43% of the apps failed to tailor privacy communications to mobile devices, making privacy policies hard to find/read
• 85% failed to explain clearly how they were collecting and using personal information

The survey also discovered some examples of good practice, including providing basic information with links to more detailed descriptions of how personal data was being used.

Source: Information Commissioner's Office.