The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has urged mobile app developers to be clearer about data usage following a survey showing that 62% of app users are concerned about privacy. This concern has led to 49% of users avoiding certain apps, indicating potential market loss for developers. ICO emphasizes that both developers and consumers share responsibility for understanding and safeguarding personal information.

1. @StoretecHull
www.storetec.net
Facebook.com/storetec
Storetec Services Limited
App developers urged to take greater care in accessing data
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has claimed that mobile
app developers need to be a lot clearer about what data they
happen to be accessing, after a YouGov survey highlighting
concerns around how such programs are being used to access
people's information.

2. The study found that around 320 million apps were downloaded on
Christmas Day last year, but around 62 per cent of the people that had
acquired those apps admitted to being concerned about the way apps
use personal information.
Such concerns could arguably be one of the main reasons that 49 per
cent of users had chosen not to download an app due to having worries
over privacy.

3. This means that app developers are potentially losing nearly half of
their overall market because they are either too vague about how
personal information is being used, or that such data is being used in a
way that customers disagree with.
“The app development industry is one of the UK’s fastest growing
industries, but our survey shows almost half of app users have rejected
an app due to privacy concerns. It is important that developers tackle
this issue by making sure their apps look after personal information
correctly," said ICO principal policy advisor for technology, Simon Rice.

4. He added that the with the organisation's guidance, developers would
be able to gain a better understanding of the correct ways in which to
use the personal information of customers and ensure that it remains
secure.
The ICO did stress however that data protection is not solely the
responsibility of the developers themselves, as consumers also need to
be aware of what is happening with their information.

5. It recommends that users only download apps from official outlets and
read up on programmes before they download them, while also
deleting any unused apps so as to make sure nothing slips off the
radar.

6. Cloud storage systems can also be very useful as they allow users to
keep important information data and information safe, while eliminating
any worries about any breaches due to loss or theft of a device.
Storetec News/Blogs “http://www.storetec.net/news-blog/appdevelopers-urged-to-take-greater-care-in-accessing-data”. App
developers urged to take greater care in accessing data.
December 20, 2013. Storetec.

7. Cloud storage systems can also be very useful as they allow users to
keep important information data and information safe, while eliminating
any worries about any breaches due to loss or theft of a device.
Storetec News/Blogs “http://www.storetec.net/news-blog/appdevelopers-urged-to-take-greater-care-in-accessing-data”. App
developers urged to take greater care in accessing data.
December 20, 2013. Storetec.