This study acts as a crucial reminder to stay vigilant about the apps we use.
Mobile apps feel increasingly essential in our daily lives, but the extent to which they collect and track our personal data is often overlooked. A recent study emailed to Lifewire, conducted by software development firm Inoxoft, uncovers which apps are the most invasive when it comes to collecting user data.
This research dives into the privacy policies of over 5,000 apps from the Apple App Store, analyzing a wide range of data collection practices. Inoxoft’s analysis created a ranking system based on 46 indicators, such as the types of data collected and how it’s tracked or linked to users. Their findings show that some of the most popular apps, like Instagram and Facebook, are leading in terms of data collection and user tracking.
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Two apps from Meta, Instagram and Facebook, tied for first place with an index score of 61.47 out of 100. Both apps collect 32 different types of user data, including sensitive information like physical addresses and user IDs. A significant portion of this data is both tracked and linked to individual users, making these apps stand out as the most invasive. In contrast, popular entertainment apps like YouTube and TikTok surprisingly rank much lower on the list, coming in 27th and 76th, respectively.
Grab, a ride-hailing and food delivery app, takes third place in the ranking with a score of 55.57. The app collects 27 data types, many related to payment information and precise location, making it one of the most privacy-intrusive in its category. Tied for fourth place are other Meta services—Threads, Meta Business Suite, and Messenger—each with a score of 54.53. These apps also collect 32 types of data, though none are tracked as rigorously as the top two.
Other apps in the top ten include Nordstrom Rack, Pinterest, and American Eagle’s AE + Aerie. Nordstrom Rack ranks seventh with an index score of 53.62, followed closely by Nordstrom at eighth place with a score of 52.54, while Pinterest (50.06) and AE + Aerie (50.01) round out the ninth and tenth spots, respectively.
Nazar Kvartalnyi, COO at Inoxoft, highlighted the significance of these findings, noting how essential it is for users to be informed about the extent of data collection. They emphasize the importance of taking control of privacy settings instead of blindly accepting app privacy policies.
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