Security News > 2021 > June > Kids’ Apps on Google Play Rife with Privacy Violations

About 20 percent of the Top 500 kids' mobile apps in the Google Play store are collecting data on users in a way that likely violates the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.

COPPA, imposed by the Federal Trade Commission, applies to online services, apps and websites that target children under 13, and it requires child-directed websites, apps and online services to provide notice of their data-collection practices and obtain parental consent prior to collecting personal information from children under 13.

About 9 percent of the apps don't collect data themselves but work with third-party advertisers and analytics companies that potentially do, researchers said.

One app suggests geographic location may be used through Google Analytics, and other third-party ad networks may collect various pieces of data, including geographic location and device ID," according to the firm.

The firm also found that another 9 percent of apps recommend that children avoid giving their PI to the app or for parents to monitor the app's usage.

Google faces claims that apps it hosts in the "Designed for Families" section Google Play, with the specific example of TinyLab, know that they're targeting and collecting children's data, and are responsible for being COPPA-compliant when it comes to the behavior of any related ad networks.

News URL

https://threatpost.com/kids-apps-google-play-privacy-violations/167110/