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FTC Publishes Guide for Mobile App Developers on Privacy, Truth-in-Advertising
Practical Law Legal Update 9-521-2629 (Approx. 3 pages)
FTC Publishes Guide for Mobile App Developers on Privacy, Truth-in-Advertising
by PLC Intellectual Property & Technology
| Published on 06 Sep 2012 • USA (National/Federal) |
The FTC announced its publication of a guide intended to help mobile app developers observe truth-in-advertising and basic privacy principles. The guide is entitled ''Marketing Your Mobile App: Get It Right from the Start."
On September 5, 2012, the FTC announced its publication of a guide to help mobile app developers observe truth-in-advertising and basic privacy principles. The guide, entitled ''Marketing Your Mobile App: Get It Right from the Start," includes general guidelines that the FTC advises all mobile app developers to consider, including:
- Being truthful about what an app can do, including on websites, in an app store and within the app itself.
- Disclosing key information in a clear, accurate and conspicuous manner.
- Incorporating privacy protections into business practices, including:
- limiting the information collected;
- securely storing information; and
- safely disposing of information when it is no longer needed.
- Obtaining express user agreement for any information collection or sharing that is not apparent.
- Clearly explaining to users practices for collecting and sharing information.
- Offering privacy choice tools that are easy to find and use and honoring users' choices.
- Obtaining affirmative user consent before collecting sensitive information like medical, financial or precise geolocation information.
- Honoring promises to users about privacy practices and security standards.
- Complying with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act if the app:
- is designed for children; or
- collects personal information from children.
- Keeping user data secure.