Apps

Subscribe to Apps

Following a previous European Commission recommendation to support the gradual lifting of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions through mobile data and apps, on 19 October 2020, the European Commission has set up an EU-wide system for the interoperability of track and trace apps.

Background

National contact tracing and warning apps can play a key role in all phases of COVID-19 management by warning users if they had been in contact with someone who has indicated they tested positive for COVID-19 and giving appropriate health advice. Most EU Member States have developed national contact tracing and warning apps which can be used on voluntary basis.

The new ‘gateway’ system allows these national apps across the EU to talk to each other and exploits the full potential of national apps by moving towards a centralised system where they can be interoperable through a single gateway service.

The design of the gateway system builds on the set of technical specifications as set out in the EU Commission Guidelines for interoperability, EU toolbox and the EU Commission and European Data Protection Board guidelines on data protection for contact tracing and warning apps.
Continue Reading European Commission implements interoperable gateway for COVID-19 contact tracing and warning apps

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Piraeus, published in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Access journal (29 January 2018), has indicated that many popular health apps have significant privacy and cybersecurity failings; many of them do not follow standard practices nor will they comply with the upcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This means that a large number of mobile health apps are jeopardizing the privacy of millions of users.

Mobile health apps

In the last few years there has been a substantial growth in mobile health apps and the ‘connected health’ model, which aims to achieve flexible, effective and affordable healthcare services by using connected technology that offers better records management, information access and increased diagnostic capabilities. This is also known as ‘smart health’. Many healthcare professionals are shifting to mobile apps for easier communication with their patients, increased productivity and improved health management capabilities.Continue Reading Study identifies cybersecurity and privacy shortcomings in health apps

This month, the Indianapolis Colts, app developer Yinzcam, Inc., and ultrasonic technology provider Lisnr, Inc., were hit with a federal class action lawsuit in Pennsylvania for violating the Electronic Communications Privacy Act by allegedly allowing the Colts fan app to listen in on users’ personal phone conversations, and use that information for advertising purposes without …

In December, 23 privacy authorities – many of which are members of the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN) – signed an open letter to the operators of seven app marketplaces, urging them to improve consumers’ access to privacy information on mobile apps.

The letter states that:

  • Mobile apps that collect data in and

…

In May this year, members of the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN) conducted a privacy sweep of 1,200+ mobile apps. The findings are now available (here).

GPEN is an informal network of 27 Data Protection Authorities (“DPAs”) established in 2007. Its members include the UK’s ICO, Australia’s OAIC, and Canada’s OPC.…

The Australian data protection authority, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), has issued two sets of guidelines further to our previous blog analysing earlier guidelines issued on the Australian Privacy Principles (APPS) that will provide the framework for Australia’s Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012 scheduled to take effect beginning 12 March…

This post was also written by Frederick Lah.

In the midst of all the recent attention on mobile apps and their privacy challenges, BlackBerry has unveiled a new “privacy notice” service that alerts customers about apps that “don’t clearly or adequately inform users about how the app is accessing and possibly managing customers’ data.” According…

Today, the Federal Trade Commission released detailed guidance on privacy in the mobile environment – at the same time it announced its largest-ever settlement with an app developer for alleged privacy violations. Combined with aggressive action on mobile privacy issues by the California attorney general’s office, Mobile Privacy Disclosures provides every company associated with…

On 27 February 2012, with the support of Europe’s largest mobile operators, the GSMA published a set of global Privacy Design Guidelines for Mobile Application Development. These guidelines come just days after the largest US based App providers, including Google, Apple and Amazon, agreed to legally enforceable privacy standards.

The Mobile App Privacy Design Guidelines…