🔒Meta Apps Collect Triple Data Compared to Apple, Microsoft
Meta's apps are data hogs compared to the competition
TL;DR
A recent study reveals Meta's iOS apps collect three times more user data than those from Apple or Microsoft. Google also ranks high, while Amazon and other companies lag behind.
Meta's iOS apps are the biggest data collectors on average compared to tools published by Apple or Microsoft, according to a new study. Why should you care? This could impact how users perceive privacy across different platforms and influence app usage decisions. The research examined 171 iOS apps from five tech giants: Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta. Nine of Meta's 12 apps made the top 40 in terms of data collection, with Alexa by Amazon being the most data-hungry non-Meta app.
Key Points
Nine of Meta's 12 apps made the top 40 in terms of data collection, with Alexa by Amazon being the most data-hungry non-Meta app (28 data types).
All Meta apps studied declared device IDs, product interactions, performance information, and crash data; nine listed precise location data.
Google's apps ranked as the most data-hungry in six App Store categories despite listing fewer data types on average than Meta’s apps.
Amazon Alexa was the most data-hungry non-Meta app, with 28 data types collected compared to an average of 13 for Apple and Microsoft apps.
Microsoft and Apple apps declared the fewest data types on average among those examined by Surfshark; only Safari listed browsing history.
Why It Matters
If you're developing or using iOS apps, this study highlights significant differences in user data collection practices. For instance, Meta's Messenger app lists 37 data types compared to Apple’s Messages listing just 12. This could influence user trust and privacy settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this matter?
If you're developing or using iOS apps, this study highlights significant differences in user data collection practices. For instance, Meta's Messenger app lists 37 data types compared to Apple’s Messages listing just 12. This could influence user trust and privacy settings.
What happened?
A recent study reveals Meta's iOS apps collect three times more user data than those from Apple or Microsoft. Google also ranks high, while Amazon and other companies lag behind.
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