• Applications downloaded for consumer’s phone may require access to various data that they will later use.
• In Apple and Google stores, it is difficult to find full information about the rules for collecting this data.
• UOKiK, together with 26 consumer protection authorities, calls for changes.

The Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection joined an international appeal regarding app stores. 27 institutions affiliated to the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) demand that Apple and Google allow application providers to clearly inform customers about the rules for obtaining and using their data. It has been the first time when so many consumer protection authorities from different countries joined forces to get the companies to change unfavourable practices.

The problem is that applications downloaded for phones often require access to various data, such as a phone book, a camera, a precise location. Otherwise, in some cases it might be impossible to download it. Then application providers can use data thus obtained in different ways. What is more, Apple and Google stores are designed in such a way that it is very difficult to find information on how data are obtained. Even if application providers wanted to reliably inform consumers about collecting their data, they cannot affect where such information will be posted. That is why consumer authorities from 27 countries call on Apple and Google to change the interface of stores so way that such information is more easily available.

Consumers must have clear information to which data an application will have access before they download it. Then they will be able to make an informed decision whether they want to but such a product or not. On the other hand, applications will be able to compete with each other in terms of privacy settings only when consumers are aware of the differences between them in this respect, says Marek Niechciał, the President of UOKiK.

What is our consumer advice? Protect your privacy. When downloading an application for your phone, find out to what data it requires access. Also, be alert and think why, for instance, an application for comparing products needs your contacts from the phone book.

Additional information for the media:

The UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warsaw
Phone: 22 55 60 430
E-mail: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL