Google Play Store launches privacy labels

Officially, the Google Play Store releases the privacy labels for its apps . The objective of this security measure is to allow users to have more information about the type of data collected by the apps they are downloading on their mobiles and to agree, then, with the information they share voluntarily.

These privacy labels were first announced in May 2021 . With them, Google requires in its “Data Security” section that developers provide more information about how certain types of data are collected and shared.

How Google privacy labels work

Imagen - Google Play Store lanza las etiquetas de privacidad

Developers should use the same categories to explain these purposes so that you can consistently compare multiple apps. The information must describe all versions and variations of the application.

The information to be provided is as follows:

  1. Whether the developer collects data and for what purpose.
  2. If the developer is sharing data with third parties.
  3. The app’s security practices, such as encryption of data in transit and whether users can request that data be deleted.
  4. Whether a qualifying app has agreed to follow the Google Play Families Policy to better protect children on the Play Store.
  5. Whether the developer has validated its security practices against a global security standard (more specifically, the MASVS).

All this information will allow the user to determine if the app that is being installed on their mobile requires the data to which it requests access in order to function , or if the data it collects is really an optional function that can be deactivated.

Google’s data security information is available now and all app developers will have until July 20, 2022 to complete the information , otherwise the apps would go through a review process in the store.