Improving App Privacy: Nudging App Developers to Protect User Privacy

Smartphone app developers make many privacy-related decisions on what data to collect about users and how that data is used. Based on interviews and a survey of app developers, the authors identify several hurdles preventing app developers from improved privacy behaviors. These include the difficulties of reading and writing privacy policies as well as privacy not being their primary task. The authors suggest some nudges that would help app developers improve user privacy as well as public policy focus on incentivizing all players in the app development ecosystem to help developers implement better privacy behaviors.