Read more about More than 3,000 apps on Google Play tracking children, says study on Business Standard. The researchers said that the study results are representative given that the apps that were examined show the most popular free ones on Google Play
Amid the ongoing Facebook data leak row, a new study has said that over 3000 on have been improperly collecting data on children.
The Independent reported that more than 3,300 Android on have been improperly collecting data on children.
Citing the International Computer Science Institute research (ICSI), it said that more than half of 5,855 Android on were potentially violating US privacy laws that protect children under 13 from invasive data collection.
The ICSI researchers used a new automated system to determine whether the complied with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
“One of the most disturbing findings from the study was that 256 of the collected the location data of children without the permission of parents. Other data improperly collected included personal details like names, email addresses and phone numbers,” The Independent report said.
The researchers said that the study results are representative given that the that were examined represent the most popular free ones on
The researchers could not evaluate running on iPhones and iPads as they did not have access to Apple’s iOS data.
The Independent could not get reaction from Google as its spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
The study comes as more than 20 consumer advocacy groups claimed that YouTube is violating COPPA by deliberately profiting from the data collection of children.
