After dragging its feet for nearly three months, Google on Monday continued a slow rollout of updates to its flagship iOS apps that includes Apple's mandated privacy "nutrition" labels.
New versions of Google Docs and Google Calendar for iOS were released today with bug fixes and performance improvements, a seemingly staid revision for apps that were last updated in December and November of last year, respectively.
With the updates, Google has furnished information regarding the collection of user data, details that are now displayed on the apps' App Store pages. Like Gmail, which was revised last week, Google Docs and Google Calendar collects and potentially links users to general information like search history, location, contact information, usage data and other metrics.
Today's App Store postings are the latest in a string of updates from Google. The search giant was accused of delaying app updates to skirt a newly adopted App Store feature that requires developers to provide insight into how their apps leverage user data.
Responding to the criticism, Google in January said it planned to release updates with the requisite privacy "nutrition" labels "soon." While the company did issue revisions of minor apps, major titles like Gmail sat idle for months.
Apple's app privacy labels rolled out in December and call on app makers to divulge what data is being collected by either itself or a third party, and how that information might be used. Similar to past App Store policies, apps are allowed to remain on the storefront without publishing the privacy labels, though the new rules go into effect when updates are submitted.
2 Comments
After seeing that screenshot, I am wondering what other data is left to collect?