Data Privacy and Apps That Demand Your Details
You have downloaded a new photo editing app on your phone and to complete the installation, the app first asks permission to your mobile camera, which you happily provide. Then, it asks for access to your image gallery. At this point, there is an itch at the back of your head, you stop for a second, but then because you are pressed for time you click OK and get on with it.
Later you forget about this and start enjoying the various features that the app is providing. Little did you realize that now the said app has access to all the images in your gallery, your location and more?
Now, your data can be used in harmless ways, intrusive though, to suggest you services or serve you ads, but in the wrong hands, there is no guessing what it can be used for.
Therefore, privacy policies were put in place.
What is the Privacy Policy?
Every app that is available on any of the stores i.e. Play Store, Apple Store or Microsoft store collects your data in some form or the other. To safeguard your personal information from being misused, laws around the world make it necessary for the developers of apps/websites to have a privacy policy. The policy details must be readily available for reference to the general public.
A privacy policy is a legal document that details out what kind of personal information is being collected, ways in which it can/will be used, and measures taken to protect that data. Take a look at this document from the website Etsy.
Contents of a Privacy Policy
Every business has a different policy layout. It varies from one company to another depending on the ways it collects, manages and uses the data. Any privacy policy must cover a few basic points:
- Company’s name and details
The privacy policy must contain the name of the company/business and contact details. Whole Foods mentions it in the first 4 lines of their document.
- Type of data collected
Every website and app is required to disclose what kind of data they are collecting from their users. Budweiser details out very clearly what kind of information they are collecting, how they are collecting and what are they doing with it.
- Why the data is collected
Privacy laws also stipulate that a company must disclose why they are collecting the data in the first place. Nestle lays it out here.
- Third-party sharing
Websites and services use third party tools to enhance their consumer experience. All websites use cookies to record user behaviour. Laws require that the third-party sharing mechanism must be explained in the privacy policy. Learn more from Instagram.
Data collection is part and parcel of the omniscient digital life we all lead. Be sure that you are aware of all the data that is being collected and that you have read and understood the terms clearly. If you are not sure that you want to share your data, you can opt-out at any point in time. Remember that the onus of protecting your data is on you.
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