Privacy Labels Will Show What Data Android Apps Are Collecting
Google is following Apple and requiring app developers to self-report their data-collection policies in an easy-to-read format for users.
On Tuesday, the company announced a new "Data safety section" for app listings on the Google Play store. This means you’ll no longer need to hunt for an app's privacy policy page, many of which can be long and full of legal jargon.
Instead, the Data safety section is designed to answer how an app collects and shares user data in simple language. “Users will start seeing the Data safety section in Google Play today, and developers are required to complete this section for their apps by July 20th,” the company says.
Google created the new Data safety section, citing consumer demand. Currently, when you install an app, the Android OS will detail what data permissions the software needs to operate. However, Google found that both users and app developers would like to see more context around the data usage.
“Users want to know for what purpose their data is being collected and whether the developer is sharing user data with third parties,” the company wrote. “In addition, users want to understand how app developers are securing user data after an app is downloaded.”
The resulting Data safety section is similar to Apple's "Privacy Nutrition Labels," which the company introduced in 2020. In Google’s case, the Data safety section will offer a summary of the app’s data policies, including whether any of the data collection is mandatory or optional.
Developers will also need to disclose the app’s security practices, such as whether data is encrypted in transit and if users can ask for data to be deleted. “As app developers update their functionality or change their data handling practices,
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