Thursday, November 15, 2018

How Developers Can Prepare Apps Under GDPR Regulation

GDPR Regulations or General Data Protection Regulation is on the floor for mobile app users in European nations, is a sort of gift. Of course; your privacy is your privacy, no intruder allow getting in. The best mobile app development companies in the US were also talking about the implementation of GDPR in their app development process.

Before you judge me with this statement, let me remind you that the app development process is not limited with geographical boundaries. So, an app, which is getting developed in the US might be used in Canada or maybe some other European country. This increases the responsibility of mobile app developers to prepare apps under GDPR regulation keeping the safety and regulation norms in mind. The experts have to come on a single platform and use these concerns to prepare apps under this new regulation.

Users' choice to opt-in or opt-out with consent





When a user installs an app in own device, it won't take permission rather it just ask for the need to accept the terms to go ahead in the installation process. At least, Android users don't have a choice here to opt-out for sharing of personal information and data.

Mind you, the Android users are 79% in the Smartphone market segment; yes, there is a need for user consent. Mobile app developers should ask users to opt-in at the right time, and this be implemented with the consent toolkit for developers. Here is the catch, most of the apps ask for consent at the wrong timing. And, they should know that they are in control. It would be great for users, if they can choose what to share and what not.

Managing consent across devices





When your user switches from one device to another device, it would be easier to get the same Android account on the new device. But, does that work for other apps too, Why there is a need to discuss it, because if a user does this many of times or even once; this would be difficult to identify that whether to update those privacy settings and opt-in/opt-out consent once again. The user settings synchronization should be there else continue using the same account without the update will be against of user's interest.

Organizing the user's opt-out request with respect





Mobile app developers should understand that user's choice should be on the priority, why we need to take care of that, because when an app allows the user to choose "opt-out" for some of the permission or all; it won't change the user experience. This has been to be there with all the fully functioning features of any app. Let's say a cab booking app wants to use your pictures from the device, if you deny then it shouldn't stop you to use all the features. Developers should incorporate all such features with the consent toolkit.

Integration of user consent preference with other third party apps/tools





The Smartphone we use is not the just the single component, it has a club of various hardware components, software, and applications. This is the basic need when it has to integrate the "opt-out/opt-in" consent with all available third-party apps and tools. While developing the app, it should be there to have sync with all such third-party apps, tools, and hardware so there would be no case of losing data by any mean. When a user agreed to share contact list with one app should be limited to that particular one only. It shouldn't be shared with anyone, else it will be a loss of user's privacy consent.

Wrapping up





Developers can't ignore or deny this regulation; this is also in favor of users so they need to keep it in mind. And, the internet world has no limit, so when going for any further development, mobile app developers have to follow GDPR.