Meta and Google mobile apps gorge on user data: Study

A recent study conducted by Surfshark, a VPN and security tools provider, reveals that Meta's mobile apps collect significantly more user data compared to those from Apple or Microsoft. The research, which analyzed 171 iOS apps published by Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, found that Meta's apps averaged 25 data types, while those from Apple and Microsoft averaged seven or eight.

Google's apps were also found to be among the worst offenders, with 29 of the 40 apps declaring the broadest data collection. This study examined privacy information submitted by developers to Apple's App Store, rather than observing the apps' actual data transmissions. The findings highlight that Meta's apps collect the most diverse range of data types, including device IDs, product interactions, performance information, crash data, precise location data, and browsing history.

Although Google's apps listed fewer data types on average, they ranked as the most data-hungry in six App Store categories. Apps from Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple declared fewer data types on average, but still included data such as device IDs, email addresses, names, diagnostic and performance information, and product interactions.

The study's lead researcher, Dr. Luis Costa, notes that Big Tech's business model often relies on the extensive collection of user information, creating detailed digital maps of individuals' lives.