Pixalate analysis finds over 1,700 family planning apps in the Google and Apple app stores; Over 33% have potential access to personal information through device permissions and 15%+ have no detected privacy policy

LONDON and PALO ALTO, Calif., June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Pixalate, the market-leading fraud protection, privacy, and compliance analytics platform for Connected TV (CTV) and Mobile Advertising, today released the Q1 2022 Privacy on Family Planning Apps Report, a comprehensive analysis of the state of privacy within family planning mobile apps through Q1 2022.

In the context of this report, “Family Planning” apps are any app available in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store with the words “period” or “pregnancy” in the title (English language only). Pixalate examines where these apps are registered, what permissions they request access to (such as location), and what personal information is shared with advertisers and/or data brokers from within the apps.

Download the report for the full analysis as well as a free list of the top 100 most popular family planning apps — and what personal information they request and share.

Key Findings:

Over 1.7k Family Planning apps to choose from

• Pixalate identified 1,133 family planning apps in the Google Play Store and 615 in the Apple App Store
• There are over 230 million monthly active users across these apps, according to Pixalate’s estimates

Over 15% of family planning apps have no detected privacy policy

• 16% of family planning apps in the Google Play Store have no detected privacy policy
• This number was 19% among family planning apps in the Apple App Store
• 9% (Google) and 13% (Apple) of the apps are privately registered

The apps request access to personal information

• 33% (Google) and 44% (Apple) of the family planning apps have potential access to personal information through requested device permissions
• 31% of family planning apps from the Apple store request access to the device’s camera, compared to 14% on Google
• 14% of family planning apps on Apple request access to the device’s calendar, compared to 3% on Google

The apps are sharing personal information with advertisers and/or data brokers

• About 10% of family planning apps transmit user location information to advertisers and/or data brokers, according to Pixalate
• 13% of family planning apps on Apple request access to the user’s location even when the app isn’t open

What’s inside the report

Pixalate’s Q1 2022 Privacy on Family Planning Apps Report includes:

• Number of family planning apps
• A list of the most popular family planning apps on each store
• Device permission requests
• What data is shared with advertisers and/or data brokers

Download a free copy of the report here: Q1 2022 Privacy on Family Planning Apps Report, which also includes a free list of the top 100 most popular family planning apps.

About Pixalate

Pixalate is the market-leading fraud protection, privacy, and compliance analytics platform for Connected TV (CTV) and Mobile Advertising. We work 24/7 to guard your reputation and grow your media value. Pixalate offers the only system of coordinated solutions across display, app, video, and OTT/CTV for better detection and elimination of ad fraud. Pixalate is an MRC-accredited service for the detection and filtration of sophisticated invalid traffic (SIVT) across desktop and mobile web, mobile in-app, and OTT/CTV advertising. www.pixalate.com

Disclaimer

The content of this press release, and the Q1 2022 Privacy on Family Planning Apps Report (the “Report“), reflect Pixalate’s opinions with respect to factors that Pixalate believes can be useful to the digital media industry. Any data shared is grounded in Pixalate’s proprietary technology and analytics, which Pixalate is continuously evaluating and updating. Any references to outside sources should not be construed as endorsements. Pixalate’s opinions are just that, opinions, which means that they are neither facts nor guarantees. Pixalate does not independently verify third-party information. Pixalate is sharing this data not to impugn the standing or reputation of any entity, person or app, but, instead, to report findings and trends pertaining to apps available for download in the official Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

SOURCE Pixalate