Category Archives: mobile

Developer Alert: Does your app upload contact or other personal data?

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Jim Brock

In the wake of the Path privacy issues, Apple confirmed today what was already clear based on their privacy policies: Apps that collect or transmit a user’s contact data without their prior permission are in violation of our guidelines. We’re … Continue reading →

Posted in App Stores and Markets, Best Practices, mobile, Privacy Policies, Pros | Leave a comment

Geo-IP location targeting:
When is consent required?

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Jim Brock

In AdExchanger, the CEO of location-data company, PlaceIQ, explains how IP addresses are used to determine a user’s location, and how this practice is becoming increasingly precise: Starting at the most granular, or hyper‑local, is a smartphone, your typical Android or … Continue reading →

Posted in Do Not Track, mobile, Pros | 1 Comment

Rules of the Road: Best Privacy Practices for Developers from the CDT and FPF

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Jim Brock

The Center for Democracy and Technology and the Future of Privacy Forum have published an important new resource that brings together the best practical privacy advice for mobile developers. This is an important step forward in establishing widely accepted “rules … Continue reading →

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Developer alert: Should you use MAC addresses instead of UDIDs?

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Jim Brock

Sarah Perez at Techcrunch (@sarahintampa) reports today that mobile app network W3i now recommends that app developers use MAC addresses in lieu of the Unique Device Identifiers (UDID’s) that Apple no longer allows app’s to access in the latest version of iOS. … Continue reading →

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Developer alert: Flurry analytics adopts new child privacy rule

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Jim Brock

Flurry, one of the most popular analytics and monetization platforms for mobile apps, updated their privacy policy today to reject apps that are focused on children or collect certain information from children. Mobile developers using Flurry need to review their … Continue reading →

Posted in mobile, Privacy Policies, Pros | Tagged | 4 Comments

How do I include a privacy policy in my App Store and iTunes listings?

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Jim Brock

By creating a privacy policy for your mobile app or site, you’ve met app listing requirements and done right by your users. Now the question is how to give them easy access to this information if they want it. If … Continue reading →

Posted in App Stores and Markets, mobile, Privacy Policies, Pros | 5 Comments

Developer alert: Looking to sell your app someday? Double check your privacy policy

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Jim Brock

As this useful article from the Proskauer law firm explains, the Federal Trade Commission recently has focused attention on a oft-neglected component of privacy policies: the merger, acquisition or sale clause. This provision tells your users that, in the event … Continue reading →

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The FTC cracks down on data collection from kids in mobile apps

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Jim Brock

Mobile app developers should be aware of two significant developments from the Federal Trade Commission about data collection from children: Parental consent may be required to collect data from children in your mobile app or site. The “COPPA” laws and … Continue reading →

Posted in Folks, mobile, Privacy Policies, Pros | Tagged | 2 Comments

Do app stores require privacy policies?

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Jim Brock

If your application transmits no data (including to advertising companies), then you may not have anything to disclose when it comes to privacy. But if your app does transmit data, you should consider these provisions: Apple App Store Review Guidelines, … Continue reading →

Posted in mobile, Privacy Policies, Pros | 1 Comment

Meaningful Mobile Choice Begins with the Privacy Policy

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Jim Brock

PrivacyChoice Policymaker is featured today in the IAB Blog, with my pitch for ad companies to encourage app developers to focus on better privacy disclosure for users, particularly when it comes to third party ad tracking. Privacy advocates and regulators … Continue reading →

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