WHAT ARE YOUR KIDS SHARING? The Federal Trade Commission remains concerned over the collection and possible sharing of children's information to third parties by app developers in a new report, "Mobile Apps for Kids: Disclosures Still Not Making the Grade." (This follows a similar report issued in February 2012 with the punny sub-title, "Current Privacy Disclosures are Disappointing.") Upon its survey of 400 random "kids" apps (200 each from the Apple and Google Play store), the report finds that the majority failed to provide any information about the data collected. In certain instances, apps passed to third parties information such as a device's ID, geolocation, and even phone number--a clear violation of COPPA rules. The FTC, apparently rather fed up, has started investigations on app developers flouting its laws.
