Apps collecting kids’ data found, removed from Google Play Store

Princess Salon, Number Coloring, and Cats & Cosplay arethree apps that have been found to be violating policies of Google Play store.

Over 20 million was the collective install count of thethree apps.

Concerns were received from International DigitalAccountability Council (IDCA) were collecting data of users, and the case ofthese apps mostly children, in violation of Play Store policies. The data waspotentially leaking to Software Development Kits (SDKs) of third parties.

Quentin Palfrey, IDACsaid, "The practices we observed in our research raised serious concernsabout data practices within these apps."

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The app stores have well-defined policies on every aspect ofapp from the developers, which are stricter when apps for younger users areconcerned. One of the requirements is that the data of the users of an app intendedfor children cannot pass collected data to third parties.

Google is active in policing its app store to maintain orderand ensure user confidence.