Privacy Policy Requirements for Mobile Apps in 2025
Both Apple and Google now require every app in their stores to have a comprehensive privacy policy — and they actively review these policies during the app submission process. An app can be rejected or removed from the store for having an incomplete, outdated, or misleading privacy policy. Beyond store compliance, mobile apps are uniquely exposed because they can access some of the most personal data sources on a device: GPS location, camera, microphone, contacts, and health data.
What Apple App Store and Google Play Require
Apple's App Privacy Labels ("Nutrition Labels"): Since 2020, every app on the App Store must declare, in a structured format, exactly which data it collects, whether it links that data to the user's identity, and whether it is used for tracking. Your privacy policy must be consistent with these declarations — discrepancies can lead to app removal.
Google Play Data Safety Section: Google requires developers to complete a "Data Safety" form that mirrors your privacy policy. You must accurately categorize every type of data your app collects, including data collected by your third-party SDKs (e.g., Firebase, Adjust, AppsFlyer). Failure to accurately complete this section is a policy violation.
COPPA: Protecting Children Under 13
If your app is directed at children or if you have actual knowledge that children under 13 are using it, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) applies. This means you cannot collect personal information from children without verifiable parental consent. This is one of the most enforced areas of U.S. privacy law, with the FTC levying multi-million dollar fines against app developers who violate it.
Location Data: The Most Sensitive Permission
Location data is considered highly sensitive because it can reveal where a person lives, works, worships, and seeks medical care. If your app requests location permissions — even just for "while using the app" — you must disclose exactly why you need it, how long you retain it, and whether it is shared with third parties. Vague disclosures like "to improve your experience" are increasingly flagged by regulators as non-compliant.