Apps collecting kids’ data found, removed from Google Play Store

Princess Salon, Number Coloring, and Cats & Cosplay are three apps that have been found to be violating policies of Google Play store.

Over 20 million was the collective install count of the three apps.

Concerns were received from International Digital Accountability Council (IDCA) were collecting data of users, and the case of these apps mostly children, in violation of Play Store policies. The data was potentially leaking to Software Development Kits (SDKs) of third parties.

Quentin Palfrey, IDAC said, "The practices we observed in our research raised serious concerns about data practices within these apps."

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The app stores have well-defined policies on every aspect of app from the developers, which are stricter when apps for younger users are concerned. One of the requirements is that the data of the users of an app intended for children cannot pass collected data to third parties.

Google is active in policing its app store to maintain order and ensure user confidence.