Privacy policy

Privacy policy is the document where an app or website says what data it collects, why, who gets it and how you can control it.

Privacy policy: A privacy policy is a written statement by an app, website or company explaining what personal data it collects, why it uses it, who it shares it with, how long it keeps it and how you can ask questions or make changes. It should be readable before you agree.

Most people tap Accept without reading. You do not need to read every line. Look for a few things: what data is collected, whether it is sold or shared for advertising, how to delete your data, and how to contact the company. If the policy is missing, hard to find or very vague, that is a warning sign by itself.

Be careful with apps that ask for far more than they need. A torch app that wants contacts and location is a classic example. A privacy policy is also not a promise of safety; it only tells you what the company says it does. Compare what the policy says with the permissions the app asks for on your phone. Five minutes spent checking an app before installing it can save months of nuisance calls.

Tips

• Skim for what data is collected, who it is shared with and how to delete it.
• Compare the permissions an app requests with what the policy says it needs.
• Avoid apps with no policy or no way to contact the company.

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