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: