FTC Report: Mobile Apps for Children Collect Personal Information Without Consent

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK-- A report from the Federal Trade Commission shows nearly 60% of mobile applications for children disclose personal information to third parties without permission from parents.

"We want industry to do more, to step up and provide parents with more information, so they can feel comfortable, and make informed choices," said Manas Mohapatras, Director of Mobil Policy with the Federal Trade Commission, who authored the report.

The FTC report shows apps that disclosed personal information to third parties transmitted information that include geolocation, device identification numbers, and sometimes even your phone number. 

Mohapatras says the FTC has lauched an investigation to see if any privacy acts have been violated, with the release of the study, he hopes to see more regulations in place for app developers to be more forthcoming to consumers with what information they disclose to other parties.

"What we would really like to do is to have consumers and parents empowered," said Mohapatras.

Until there are policy changes, cyber security experts have some recommendations for families to protect their personal information.

"You might want to look at the website for the developer," said Al Heitkamper, a professor of cyber security at Oklahoma City Community College, "because there might be more information, it might be more apparent on their website."

To read the whole report from the FTC, go to the links section of our website: http://www.okcfox.com/links.
FTC Report: Mobile Apps for Children Collect Personal Information Without Consent

Posted: Monday, December 10 2012, 09:55 PM CST