Google and Facebook extract more data from children’s apps, explore the complete study details here.
Data Privacy: In a study by the privacy service company Arrka, it has been found that Google and Facebook collect more than half of the data from children’s apps. According to the Economic Times, referencing Arrka’s research, Google tops the list by collecting 33% of the data from such apps, followed by Facebook at the second position with 22% data collection.
Risk to Children’s Privacy
Shivangi Nadkarni, co-founder and CEO of Arrka, expressed concerns about the increasing attention to children’s privacy worldwide, with various regulations being implemented over the past year. Simultaneously, there is an alarming trend of children’s personal data being harvested around us without proper notice and guidance.
Identified Data Receivers
The study identifies smaller data receivers like AppsFlyer and AppLovin. Together, these two contribute about 2% to the total trackers identified, collecting approximately 38% of the data. Additionally, the survey reveals that 85% of the apps included in the study had at least one “dangerous permission,” allowing excessive sensitive data collection, posing potential harm to children.
Access Permissions
The study also highlights the extent of access permissions granted by these apps, with 73% having access to stored files, 46% to the microphone, 43% to the camera, 38% to phone details, 27% to contacts, and 23% to location. EdTech (Education Technology), childcare, and coding apps were found to have the highest number of dangerous permissions. Approximately two-thirds of childcare and EdTech apps had access to children’s location, and 100% of EdTech and coding apps had access to the camera. Analytics trackers were embedded in at least 80% of children’s apps, and 54% featured advertising trackers, with gaming, EdTech, and coding apps having the highest number of trackers.
