I have to tap agree and I haven't read a word of it
That app can see my location and my contacts, and I couldn't tell you what I said yes to. — Phone owner, 2024
Researchers wanted to know who reads the fine print, so they built a fake social network called NameDrop and invited 543 students to join. Planted in its terms of service was a clause saying that to use the site, you hand over your first-born child. In the study, 98% of the students missed it. Most of them (74%) clicked a quick-join button that skips the privacy policy, which would have taken about half an hour to read. Apple and Google now make apps post a privacy label on their app store page showing what data the app collects. Developers fill it out themselves, so you're taking their word. It still beats reading the policy.
For now: before you download an app, open its App Store or Google Play page and read the privacy label (Google calls it Data safety) for what the developer says it collects.
Relates to No. 09320.
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