How to Understand Apple’s Privacy Labels for Apps

Have you wondered about Apple’s Privacy Labels for Apps?

Every app in the App Store must list the data it collects from the user and the permissions it requires.

Apple continually improves upon and does their best to maintain a transparent and safe App Store.

WhAt Are They?

Apple’s Privacy Labels for Apps are available for every app in the App Store on iOS, iPadOS, and MacOS.

Regardless of device these will basically display the same information. Each device has very similar security features, requiring the same permissions to allow for certain functionality.

It is important to remember that apps that are not in the app store that are instead downloaded and installed from websites, do not offer this information. Be sure to trust the source of the program when downloading apps off of the app store.

The information offered currently has two main categories:

• Data Linked/Not Linked to You
• Data used to Track You

These two categories tell you what data each app uses. It will also expand upon what permissions the app requires. Check out the image below for exact details.

There may be other data collected, but they don’t always need to be listed if they are dependent on using specific features of the app.

If the user gives explicit permission for the data to be collected each time it is used, then it does not need to be listed here. There are a few more specific circumstances that allow for the data not to be listed here. Read about them here.

Where to find them

Go to the App Store and find the app in question.

Scroll down past the Preview section.

Here you will find the section titled App Privacy.

This is where it will list what data the app will use with full detail.

If you do not select that section and keep scrolling instead, there is also some, but not all of this information.

You will also find other information about the app, such as creator/provider, app size, category and more.

More information

If you would like to learn more about Apple’s Privacy Labels for Apps, read the following articles, or call us and we will be happy to answer your questions.

• Apple’s explanation “Learn More About Privacy”
• Forbes “Why You Should Stop Using Gmail on Your iPhone” article
• NYTimes article “What We Learned From Apple’s New Privacy Labels”

If you have specific questions Apple’s privacy labels, or if our terminology isn’t clear, please use our contact form to send us a message, or give us a call and make an appointment.