Security News > 2021 > March > Apple's app transparency rules: Google's privacy labels for Chrome and Search on iOS highlighted by DuckDuckGo

Google's Apple-mandated privacy labels for its Chrome and Search apps on iOS have drawn criticism from tiny search rival DuckDuckGo, which tweeted "No wonder they wanted to hide it."

Mysterious delays in Google's app updates soon ensued - though the company said in January that: "As Google's iOS apps are updated with new features or to fix bugs, you'll see updates to our app page listings that include the new App Privacy Details. These labels represent the maximum categories of data that could be collected - meaning if you use every available feature and service in the app."

Google has now updated both its Chrome web browser and its standalone Search app - and the list of labels is indeed a long one.

DuckDuckGo also has an app for iOS and its privacy labels include just two categories of data, both under the heading "Data not linked to you." This, no doubt, explains why the privacy-focused browser vendor tweeted yesterday that "After months of stalling, Google finally revealed how much personal data they collect in Chrome and the Google app. No wonder they wanted to hide it."

Will these labels have any impact on app usage? Google has a weaker position on iOS than it does on Android, as you would expect, since Apple points users towards its own Safari browser and Apple Maps, and even Chrome has to use the Safari browser engine.

Google Maps is a popular app though, and we have a hunch that since the privacy details appear below the fold when you find an app in the Store, it will not make much difference to usage.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/03/16/keep_scrolling_googles_privacy_labels/