Have you ever thought about the importance of consent compliance on mobile apps compared to websites? It’s a topic that often flies under the radar, but recent events might make you reconsider. Just take a look at the $500,000 settlement that Tilting Point Media had to pay for violating the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of not following data privacy regulations.
The issue arose when Tilting Point’s popular mobile game “SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off” collected and shared children’s personal data without parental consent due to misconfiguration of third-party software development kits (SDKs). As part of the settlement, Tilting Point is now required to implement an SDK governance framework to monitor the use and configuration of SDKs within its apps.
But how can you ensure that your own mobile app is compliant with data sharing restrictions and regulations like GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, COPPA, HIPAA, and others? It all boils down to obtaining proper consent before sharing personal data with third parties.
This is where Privado comes in. Our privacy code scanning solution offers a unique way to monitor and govern personal data flows from apps to third-party SDKs. With Privado, privacy teams can easily track consent, identify which personal data elements are being shared with which SDKs, and set up automated safeguards to prevent non-compliance.
The beauty of Privado lies in its ability to automate the process. Instead of relying on manual assessments that can be time-consuming and error-prone, Privado scans your app’s code before each update to detect new SDKs, personal data elements being shared, and any SDKs that are not honoring consent banners.
But why are SDKs so tricky to audit? SDKs, or software development kits, are essentially packages of code that developers use to incorporate features and third-party solutions into their apps. While they are essential for enhancing app functionality, they also pose significant privacy risks, especially when it comes to advertising SDKs.
Advertising SDKs, in particular, automatically collect user data to track marketing campaigns and app events. This data collection can include sensitive information, making it crucial for privacy teams to closely monitor how SDKs handle personal data.
However, auditing SDKs can be challenging due to their complex nature and the need for engineering expertise. This is where Privado shines. By automatically scanning your app’s code, Privado can identify how SDKs are implemented, flag any non-compliant data flows, and ensure that your app meets privacy regulations.
In addition to automating SDK audits, Privado also helps implement a programmatic SDK governance framework. This framework ensures that all new SDKs or changes to existing SDKs undergo proper assessments and are implemented in a compliant manner. By integrating with your code management and CI/CD tools, Privado streamlines the process of reviewing and releasing code, thus preventing privacy violations before they occur.
So, if you want to ensure that your mobile app is consent compliant and privacy secure, consider leveraging Privado’s unique capabilities. With Privado, you can stay ahead of the curve and protect your users’ data with ease.
