Privacy Commissioners Issue Guidance Document on Good Privacy Principles for Developing Mobile Apps

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada, and the Information and Privacy Commissioners of Alberta and British Columbia have released a guidance document on privacy principles for developing mobile apps. The purpose of the guidance document is to help mobile app developers understand their obligations under Canada’s privacy laws, and how to comply with them in the design and development of apps. Key privacy considerations for developing mobile apps include:

• Accountability: app developers are accountable for the collection, use and disclosure of personal information of app users;
• Openness and Transparency: app users must be clearly informed of how their personal information is collected and will be used;
• Collection: only personal information of app users essential for the functioning of the app may be collected;
• Meaningful Consent on a Small Screen: visual cues such as layered text, graphics, colour or sound may be useful to inform app users on a small screen;
• Notice and Consent: app users should be informed of the app’s privacy practices when the app is downloaded, at first use, and during the app experience to ensure that consent is meaningful and relevant.

For the full text of the Guidance Document, visit: http://www.priv.gc.ca/information/pub/gd_app_201210_e.asp Summary by: Lauren Lodenquai