Privacy Policy for Google Play store Apps

What kinds of information are deemed “personal?” Any information that could be used to identify someone. A few examples include: Billing or shipping address First name and family name IP address Email address Credit card details Regulations Governing Privacy Policies A number of major, overarching privacy regulations have been made law in the last few years, and they’re not restricted to single nations. One of these regulations covers 28 countries, some apply to two or three countries, and one was developed by one state (California) but manages to apply to the entire USA. The most significant regulation is the EU’s (European Union’s) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into effect in May of 2018 and quite rigorously secures the confidentiality of the personal information of all those in the 28 EU countries. It’s 88 pages long and goes further than any other regulation to establish a safe online environment for consumers. Australia’s Privacy Act of 1988 was drafted before information technology was a major threat to personal privacy. However, its principles still apply today and the letter of the law has been updated to reflect current conditions. CalOPPA in the United States is a regulation created by California which now serves as a privacy regulation for the whole country. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the USA requires app developers to have a clearly written Privacy Policy in place that’s easy to access via app stores. The Student Online Protection Act (SOPIPA) is a regulation protecting student data from third-party vendors (e.g. businesses that scan emails to collect information in aid of marketing initiatives). Since vendors often use mobile phone apps to scan the contents of smartphones, app developers are now required to strictly adhere to their own conspicuously placed Privacy Policies. If your app targets users under the age of 13, COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) requires that only certain information be collected from children, and with parental consent. An app developer would have to find a reliable means of verifying parental consent. Other privacy regulations include PIPEDA in Canada and PDPA in Singapore and Malaysia. All of the above regulations demand that consumers’ personal data be protected and that websites and apps provide Privacy Policies when they collect personal information. Remember that your Privacy Policy must: Be easy to understand Be conspicuously posted Clearly inform consumers of what information you collect, why you collect it, what you plan to do with it, and with whom you may share it App Stores May Demand That Your App Posts a Privacy Policy App stores have to be careful about the apps they allow to carry their brand, as indiscretions can destroy their reputation. At the same time they are legally required to demand compliance from every app developer they represent. Here are a few examples of what the major app stores demand from developers. From the Windows App Developer Agreement Windows requires that your app maintains a Privacy Policy in a number of circumstances including if: Your app accesses, collects or transmits any personal information either for you or for a third party, You choose to receive App Analytics and Error Reporting Data with your app, or You are required by law. From Google Play’s Developer Policy Center Google requires that app owners be transparent in how they handle user data by disclosing the collection, use and sharing of data: