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80% of apps lie about data handling: Are Apple's privacy rules too relaxed?

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Apple's app tracking transparency should make it easier for Apple users to see which apps are collecting personal data. That's because Apple introduced accompanying charts in which developers have to indicate what kind of data they collect. However, a German researcher's analysis now shows that many of these disclosures are misleading. However, according to researcher Kollnig, the problem lies neither with Apple nor with developers.


TL;DR

  • Analysis shows: 80% of the apps studied that claimed not to pass on personal data did so after all.
  • According to researcher Konrad Kollnig, the problem is app libraries that automatically forward user data.
  • Responsibility, therefore, lies with large corporations such as Google.
  • This may cause problems with existing data protection laws in Europe.

Along with app tracking transparency, Apple launched an attempt to make the collection of personal data more transparent in 2021. Since then, if developers want to make their apps available for download in the AppStore for iPhones and iPads, they must state whether the app collects or forwards user data. However, the analysis by researcher Konrad Kollnig for Netzpolitik shows that the calculation does not add up in the end.

As part of his doctoral thesis, Kollnig examined 1,682 randomly selected apps, 373 of which claimed not to collect any personal data. The researcher launched the apps in his experimental setup and then examined traffic through a man-in-the-middle proxy. So he inserted himself between an iPhone 8 running iOS 15.2 and the servers to see where his usage data ended up. The result: 80% of the apps that said they didn't forward personal data did.

The problem is app libraries - and the GDPR.

According to Kollnig however, the responsibility does not necessarily lie with the app developers. According to Netzpolitik, they rely on app libraries - comparable to prefabricated building blocks for construction - for development, which they can't really view themselves. And the tracking code is hidden in these libraries, says Alexander Fanta for Netzpolitik. In return for using these libraries, developers receive revenue, which companies like Google, in turn, utilize for personalized advertising.

apple app store privacy data tracking
This is what App Store application sheets will look like, with information about how your data is collected and used / © Montage: NextPit / Illustrations: Apple

So while developers are in a bit of a vulnerable position and Apple relies on their information, the need for action lies with the corporations that offer app libraries in a non-transparent manner.

In Europe, such business practices violate the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), a set of laws and regulations that protect the privacy rights of users. Kollnig sees an opportunity here to improve data protection for individuals. For a change, "existing EU data protection law must be consistently implemented in practice," Netzpolitik quotes Kollnig at the end of the report.

What do you think about the results of the analysis? Does it worry you? Would you like to see something similar to the GDPR in the US? 

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Benjamin Lucks

Benjamin Lucks
Product Reviewer

Benjamin works as a freelance journalist and is always on the lookout for special features that make new cell phones, headphones and gadgets interesting for the reader. If he doesn't succeed, he comforts himself by writing short stories and using his digital camera.

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  • 1
    Therese Johnsen Jan 25, 2022 Link to comment

    Most of the applications collect a big part of your data, but there are still some ways to avoid total surveillance. Not everyone want to share every step, so the idea of application providing full anonymity gains another sense. I’m not sure if all of them really keep your data safe, but Utopia p2p https://u.is/ really does. If I’m not mistaken, it was launched about 4 years ago and never faced any privacy scandals. Moreover I hadn’t seen any negative reviews.


  • 49
    storm Jan 21, 2022 Link to comment

    The fact you can't trivially firewall any or all apps of you choice, including OS services, on iOS or Android is highly indicative of the kinds of data fishing going on.

    Zois Bekios Zannikos