Mobile apps and data privacy
A lot of time and effort goes into developing and designing successful mobile apps.
You need a well-designed and intuitive interface, exciting features, and a good UX.
In many cases, you’ll also need a business strategy pertaining to monetization if you intend to make money off your app.
But none of this matters if you don’t have a proper privacy. Arguably privacy should probably be on top of your list of things to consider regarding your mobile app.
And why is that?
Users spend a lot of time interacting with mobile apps. And many of these in-app interactions depend on real-time access and use of personal information.
That’s why it is crucial for companies whose business models heavily depend on users’ interactions with apps to have a well-defined privacy strategy.
You should always take the time to ensure that your mobile applications and advertising systems respect users’ privacy.
You need consent on mobile apps too
Like websites, mobile apps are subject to data privacy laws like the GDPR.
Even so, the state of GDPR compliance in the mobile app market is pretty dire.
With the increased focus on mobile app compliance from data protection authorities, this trend opens the door to potentially hefty fines for non-compliant app developers.
On the other hand, this also gives you an opening to get ahead of your competitors.
What do you think happens when your users don’t trust that you collect and use their data lawfully?
That’s right: they delete your app.
Or at least 41% would do so, according to a study done by Google and Deloitte.
By being transparent and implementing a privacy-by-design approach, you can build trust-based relationships with your users.
If you do that, your user retention numbers will most likely stay healthy.
Mobile App monetization and privacy
On top of being subject to data privacy laws like the GDPR, app-publishing platforms like the Apple App Store and Google Play Store also have specific privacy requirements for apps published on their platforms.
You’ll want to familiarize yourself with these policies and requirements if you have a monetization strategy for your mobile app.
Programmatic advertising can be very lucrative, but you’ll slash your potential earnings if you can’t publish your app on the big platforms.
Similarly, there must be consent behind the data you make money off. Large advertisers won’t buy your inventory if there isn’t.
Even if advertisers don’t care about a lack of consent, you must remember one thing:
As a data controller, you assume joint responsibility for data you share with other parties.
That means you are still legally liable for data processed by a third party.
Growth is contingent on compliance
Although the reach of mobile applications is global, data privacy regulations are enacted at a local level.
Let’s say you are based in the US. If your app is available for EU citizens to download, the GDPR will still apply.
This is also true the other way around, although the GDPR is probably the strictest privacy legislation.
You must ensure that your app complies with relevant privacy regulations no matter where they’re downloaded.
If you don’t ensure compliance within all legal frameworks, you risk limiting your reach significantly.
And that means less growth and less revenue.
How do I make my mobile app compliant?
Two steps in the right direction would be to implement a clear and concise privacy policy and a consent banner.
To do this, you should first audit your app’s SDKs and third-party trackers.
This is important because users need to know what type of data an app collects and why it’s being collected for them to make informed decisions on consent preferences.
The easiest way to audit your app and keep it up to date is through a consent management platform for mobile apps.
How does a mobile app consent management platform help achieve compliance?
With Cookie Informations Mobile App Consent solution, you can deploy our Mobile Consent SDK directly into your app.
The Mobile Consent SDK makes it easy to gather legal consent on your app efficiently and stay compliant within all legal frameworks. That way, you can build trust with your user base and increase your ad opportunities with proven consent.
Our solution is available for both iOS and Android devices and lets you create any consent form, customize consent pop-ups, and securely store consent records.
And our solution supports 42 languages, so you can easily scale your business and reach a global audience.
