In a TheHill.com op/ed today, Ken Wasch praised the multi-stakeholder process that led to a voluntary code of conduct for mobile app transparency. The tech industry worked with the Department of Commerce to meet the public need for privacy protection–without the need for draconian legislation or regulation.
The code of conduct will make privacy policies for mobile apps simpler and easier to understand. Ken says:
“[We] live in a world where privacy policies are long and complex; they are documents written by lawyers for lawyers. The new Code, which will lead to clearer, simpler notices, represents a fundamental shift in the paradigm of privacy transparency.”
The companies that sign on to the code will help their users make informed decisions about which apps they want to use by:
- Providing a list of key data elements collected by apps
- Offering a notice about relevant third party sharing
These enhanced privacy tools will be a selling point for companies competing in the mobile app arena. Beyond that, they are an important step toward a win-win approach to privacy protection that protects consumers while leaving room for new ideas and apps. The code of conduct shows we can move forward on privacy protection without burdensome, costly regulation that stifles innovative growth.
Laura Greenback is Communications Director at SIIA. Follow the SIIA Public Policy Team at @SIIAPolicy