Apple App Store to include personal data warnings ‘in consumer privacy win’, CMA announces

Apple is soon to indicate on its App Store what personal data each app keeps and potentially shares about its users, the Competition and Markets Authority has announced.

 In one of several Big Tech-related announcements on Tuesday, the CMA said Apple had agreed to make the changes following consultation with the UK competition watchdog and its international counterparts and partners.

Apple had previewed the move back in June, and the CMA has now confirmed that changes are set to arrive on iOS the coming days.Shortly on the app store there will be a new “Data linked to You” panel, notifying users what data may be collected and linked to users’ accounts, devices or identity by an app.  

In recent months Apple had asked app developers to create these so-called “privacy nutrition labels”.  Each app will indicate whether it gathers data such as users' names, addresses, browsing histories and location, financial information, past purchases, and information on whether the app can track their activities.

Developers will also need to be transparent about the activities of any third-party partners - many apps have third-party code integrated into their apps.

The idea is to better inform consumers about how their data will be used by apps they download in everyday life.

In a statement, the watchdog said: “The changes secured by the CMA and its international partner agencies mean that people can more easily consider privacy issues when choosing whether or not to buy and download an app.