Most popular smartphone apps have no privacy policy to tell consumers how their personal data will be collected, stored and reused, according to a recent study by the Future of Privacy Forum. In a review of the top 30 applications across iPhones, Androids and Blackberries, 22 failed to provide a privacy policy on the company’s web site or the app itself.
While a written privacy policy does not guarantee consumer privacy won’t be violated, “posting a privacy policy is the essential first step for companies to take to be accountable for their practices of collecting and using online data,” according to the report.
The popular apps with no privacy policy include Words With Friends, an interactive crossword puzzle game for the iPhone, and Titanium Track, which helps people back up and sync their media files from Android phones to multiple devices.
When a software company has no stated privacy policy, consumers are left with little recourse if the company decides to resell their personal data, use it for their own targeted advertising, or mine the data for some future unknown use.
To see the list forum’s list of 30 most popular apps, and whether they have a privacy policy, click here.
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