Members of the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN) have
released the results of its May 2014 privacy sweep. A common theme
is the need for greater transparency regarding data collection and
use prior to the downloading of a mobile App.
Background
GPEN is a network of data protection authorities drawn from 39
jurisdictions around the world. The May 2014 sweep is the second
coordinated review of privacy disclosures conducted by GPEN. Last
year's sweep focused on website privacy policies. In Canada,
website privacy policies were criticized for excessive use of
boilerplate and over broad statements.
This year's GPEN sweep focused on mobile App privacy
disclosures. As in 2013, data protection authorities in 19
countries participated in the sweep. Among the 26 authorities in
those countries who participated were the Office of the Privacy
Commissioner of Canada (OPC) and the Office of the Information and
Privacy Commissioner of British Columbia (BC OIPC). In
