Information Commissioner's Office publishes app data safety guidelines
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has provided new guidelines to ensure app developers are more transparent with the data they access and share to help app users protect their personal data.
The ICO published five guidelines for app users
This move comes after iPhone app, Brightest Flashlight, was found to sell the geo-locational data of users to third party advertisers without clearly stating it in the terms and conditions.
An ICO survey of 2,272 adults for YouGov, found that 59 per cent of adults in the UK have downloaded an app despite 62 per cent expressing concern with how apps handle personal information. In addition, half of app users have at one point decided not to download an app due to privacy concerns.
John Thielens, chief security officer Axway, said: “The ICO’s survey shows yet again that security is the main factor putting the brakes on technology advancement and adoption. Transparency is the be all and end all for consumers when it comes to their personal information. They need to know exactly where their data is, who’s accessing it and what they’re doing with it, or the app industry risks being de-railed.
“But apps aren't just for consumers. We’re seeing a big rise in demand for apps for the enterprise. The bring your own device (BYOD) movement, combined with the dominance of smartphones and tablets means employees, partners and customers alike want to access information anytime, anywhere. In this scenario, the security burden is heavily weighted on the business.
The principal policy advisor for technology ICO, Simon Rice, said: “Apps do all sorts of weird and wonderful things, helping someone chat with their friends, find a local restaurant or see what’s on at their local cinema. However, they often work by using personal information which can include information you would not normally choose to give out to a stranger, such as the contact details of friends and relatives and details of your location.
“The survey published today shows people are clearly concerned about the privacy implications of this technology. Our tips aim to address this concern by showing people how they can stay in control of their personal information, while enjoying the benefits provided by the apps many of us will be downloading this Christmas.”
The ICO guidelines are as follow:
Only download apps from official and trusted app stores. Be extremely careful of using untrusted sources.
Read the information available about an app in the app store before you download it. Check you are happy about the personal information it will be using.
Have a regular clear-out. Many of us have downloaded an app and only used it once. If you no longer use the app, uninstall it.
Consider downloading mobile security software to help keep your device secure.
Make sure you erase any apps from the phone before you donate, resell or recycle an old device, as these may have to access to your personal information. You should be able to find a ‘factory reset’ option in the device settings.