The need for privacy policies in mobile apps

Image source

It is an easy task for the app developer to create a new mobile application during this technology advanced era but is that every apps safe for the user’s privacy? It is important for app developers to know the imperative laws before create an app because it concern to user’s privacy. When the user’s personal information had used by the third parties it can be a serious issue and illegal problem for the app developers and can be sued by the user. So the app developer must set the privacy policy into their apps which informs user about the precise purpose, who will have the data, categories of personal data the app wants to collect and the user’s rights. (Iubenda, n.d)

Read more: Click Here

By: Low Joong Lok

Application Privacy

Image source

Mobile application became a trend for online business to connect with their customers and promote their products. Although it brings benefit to the business and customer but it also create a privacy issue. Some of the business shares the customer’s information to the third parties without customer permission and this action against the company privacy policies. Therefore, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which the independent agency of the United States government proposing significant improvements in the way businesses handle consumer information and changes in the controls consumers should have over their information. The business must follow the 3 top-level maxims: Privacy by design, Simplifying consumer choice and Increasing consumer transparency. So the customer’s information will be more safety after the business has a rigorous policy. (AppPrivacy, n.d)

Read more: Click Here

By: Low Joong Lok

Copyright law and mobile apps: How can I protect my intellectual property?

Image Sources

There are different types of mobile apps and some of the apps may be worth millions even billions. Therefore, copyright is important for those who created the apps to protect their intellectual property. Based on The Copyright Act 1968, it is able for mobile apps to be copyrighted. There are some basic requirements to make sure that mobile apps are protected by copyright. Firstly, the mobile app must be the result of a person’s own skill and effort. Besides, the app must be novel or original. It is important for the app to demonstrate some utility and function that makes it novel or original. There is no requirement that the app must be purchasable product to be pay for copyright protection because free mobile apps may still be protected if they meet all of the conditions.

Read more: Click Here

 By: Yvonne Tan

Privacy Issue

Image Source

A research from University of California concluded that among 825 mobile applications for iPhone users, 21% forward the ID number, 4% forward the current position and 0.5% copy the address books. As for android users, installing apps requires the permission to access right to data (contacts, photos, location) and will be claimed by the app, or else the app will not be installed. Once installed, the privileges cannot be revoked. Many developers claimed that they do so because they want to ensure the functionality of the app runs smoothly. To solve the issue of data abuse, an app called “SRT AppGuard” is created to show the users on every application they installed and what it accesses to. Privileges can be taken back or given to the respective app at any time by the users. What comes even great is it can be downloaded without any fees charges.

Read more here: click here

By: Chow Suet Li

Federal Legislation Introduced Regarding Mobile Application Privacy

Image Source

In order to promote transparency and protect the mobile application user’s privacy, The Apps Act had introduced by Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson. The Apps Act are mean for the app developers to provide notice to the apps users when sharing their personal data before collecting the personal data. The notice must include the purpose of collecting and whom is the third party that will receives. App developers need to take responsibility to prevent unauthorized access to the apps user’s personal data and inform the users when they want to stop the mobile apps by deleting their stored personal data (Orzechowski, 2013).

Read more here: http://www.whitecase.com/publications/article/federal-legislation-introduced-regarding-mobile-application-privacy

By: Edward See Noor Yee

4 Legal Considerations for Building a Mobile App

Image Source

Legal considerations when developing a mobile application is important to protect the mobile applications from involving in complaints, negative media coverage and lawsuits. Four ways that prevent negative issues to happen are don’t hide the money factor if your application has a charge associated with it, evaluate the data drilling by clearly identify what user data your app is collecting and legalese is bad because lengthy boilerplate terms make the users difficult to understand and ignore it. Therefore, be user friendly way (Hutnik, 2011).

Read more here: http://mashable.com/2011/05/26/mobile-app-legal-tips/#7ksAl_zLHEq5 

By: Edward See Noor Yee

Application misuse is proving hard for IT to spot

Image Source

Business users are misusing the applications, but IT department finds it difficult to stop them. Users abuse applications for negligent or malicious purposes such as stealing data for sale to other competitors in the market. Besides, users can misuse software in various ways such as view, copy, or print data. Only one in four said they could stop employees copying files. 71% of malicious are caused by neglicience. In site of this, more companies are planning to move their applications to the cloud or break down the users into privileged users and ‘application users’. Only these two users can access to the cloud to prevent leakage of information (Bradburry, 2016).

Read more here: http://www.itworldcanada.com/article/application-misuse-is-proving-hard-for-it-to-spot/375582 

By: Edward See Noor Yee

Social and Mobile Apps Push Back Against FBI Pressure on Encryption

Image Source

This article mentioned about the escalation between FBI an Apple over the tech grant’s refusal to unlock a terrorist’s Iphone. FBI has been trying to pressure Iphone but Iphone refuse to implement this because it is not safe as when FBI could use the techniques that emulate the generated security keys but others can do the same thing to FBI too. The consequences are hackers can easily hack into anyone mobile application and violate the user’s privacy. Although there are laws to prevent the FBI to hack into the systems, but law may shifts in the future, hence, more advanced technology is needed to block the FBI from hacking (Morrison, 2016).

Read more: Click Here

By: Lau Jing Qi