Following a recent report alleging that Google hasn't updated its iPhone and iPad apps since December 8, 2020 in order to avoid adding Apple's mandatory new privacy labels, the search giant has now offered a reasonable explanation.
Google Is NOT Skirting Apple’s Rules
Some people have slammed Google for supposedly dragging its feet with the new App Store privacy labels requirement. According to Google itself, however, that's not the case at all.
A company spokesperson explained in a statement to TechCrunch that Google is not attempting to work around Apple's rules. The company is apparently preparing to roll out privacy labels across its iPhone and iPad apps "as soon as this week or the next".
The App Store's new App Privacy section was designed to list in one place all of the ways an app uses your data and is now mandatory for new submissions. As of December 8, every new App Store submission and update must include this information. As Fast Company noticed, to date every Google app’s privacy label still reads, "No Details Provided".
"By getting in all its existing apps’ updates on or before December 7, Google has managed to avoid filling out a privacy label for any of their apps so far," Fast Company speculated. But if Google is to be believed, it was wrong to make that assumption.
The App Store Privacy Labels Are Mandatory
As per Apple's rules, Google and other developers may choose not to provide data for the App Privacy section, in which case their current apps will remain on the store. An offending developer's account will not be suspended, but Apple will not allow app updates in the store unless the developer has provided privacy details when submitting iOS app updates.
The App Privacy section gives you an overview of how apps are using your data with relevant information about data linked to the user and used for tracking them. The idea being that people should know this stuff in advance of downloading the app. It's up to developers to clarify if any piece of information is linked to the user’s identity.
Surprise! Facebook Collects Lots of Data
The feature has actually exposed many apps that collect excessive amounts of data from users, highlighting the kind of privacy invasions that we have grown accustomed to. That's especially true with Facebook's laughably lengthy label that reveals just how much data the social network is collecting.
We will be looking forward to seeing Google's privacy labels. Following criticism accusing Apple of exempting its own apps from this rule, the company has clarified that it will be showing privacy labels for its own apps as well, whether they be preinstalled or available optionally on the App Store as standalone downloads.