Study Reveals Thousands of Android Apps in the US Track Children

According to researchers from the International Computer Science Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, 73% of children’s apps in the Play Store transmit users’ confidential data over the internet. The researchers analyzed 5,855 apps and found widespread privacy violations.

Key Findings from the Study

• 28% of the analyzed apps have access to sensitive data protected by Android’s user agreement.
• 256 apps track users’ locations.
• 107 apps have access to email addresses.
• 10 apps can access phone numbers.

This means that thousands of Android apps are collecting information about children, violating US law.

Violation of Children’s Privacy Laws

Under the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), apps are only allowed to collect information about children under 13 if their parents have given consent. None of the apps analyzed by the researchers met this requirement.

Improper Use of Device Identifiers

The study also found that about 1,100 apps transmit permanent device identifiers to advertisers. This practice is prohibited not only for children but for all Google users. According to Google’s rules, only advertising identifiers—which users can reset—may be used for ad targeting.

Issues with Industry Self-Regulation

Notably, many of the violating apps had been approved under the US Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Safe Harbor program, which was intended to promote industry self-regulation. The study states, “As has been demonstrated time and again, self-regulation cannot replace a system of government enforcement.”

Related Developments

Previously, about 20 advocacy organizations appealed to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate YouTube, which they believe collects information about children.