How to Create a Mobile App Privacy Policy

A mobile privacy policy is shorter and more graphical than a standard website privacy policy. It makes opt-in/opt-out controls easy to access and addresses technologies such as geo-location. And it’s increasingly required for mobile apps by regulators and publishers.

•	California privacy law requires mobile developers to display a privacy policy on their app.

•	App stores now require apps to disclose the collection or transmission of personal information.

Most mobile apps simply link to the publisher’s website privacy policy. But a 2,000-word web site privacy policy may not be viewable on a mobile device and often lacks disclosures about mobile data collection. Follow these tips to create a privacy policy for your mobile app:

Keep your mobile privacy policy short and make it pretty.
A short notice privacy policy is viewable on the small screen of a mobile device. Graphical links help viewers quickly navigate to the sections that matter to them. You can start with your website privacy policy and streamline it or create a short notice with a link to your full privacy policy.

Make data privacy transparent to consumers.
Mobile devices generate unique device identifiers and geo-location tracking that you may need to collect or share with a third party for your app to function. If you don’t need it, don’t collect it. If you do need it, give consumers the option to turn it off and modify their service.

Make sure your partners are on board.
Mobile advertising, social networking and other apps often collect and share data between partners. Your privacy policy is only as good as your partner’s privacy policy. Make sure your partners meet your standards and consumers have transparent control over access to their data.

Get your privacy policy validated and certified.
Third party validation and certification of your privacy policy ensures that your policy complies with your business practice, applicable laws and industry standards. A certification seal increases trust instantly at the point of engagement with your app.

Be accountable for your privacy policy.
A privacy review should be part of your technical and business development processes. By designing privacy options into your app, you empower consumers to make informed decisions about what personal information is collected and how it is shared. A privacy dispute resolution service, accessible from the validation page, allows users to provide, privacy feedback about your app or site.

Get started today with a free mobile app privacy policy from TRUSTe, the leader in online trust: