10 steps to GDPR compliant Mobile App Development

In the present scenario, all software companies focus on developing applications and collecting user data. However, what is more crucial is maintaining data privacy. Did you know data compliance is a key integral metric for any software development?

As a company, while developing applications, companies collect confidential information of an individual which includes both their personal and professional data. The collected data includes overly personal information about a user.

Hence, as a Company it is crucial to collect data for ethical purposes and process the data with an ethical standpoint. Yet, for efficient and effective data protection policy Companies are required to follow certain regulations. Thus, if you are determining regulations, application development companies need to follow GDPR rules and laws.

The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) is a European law that came into existence in April 2016, replacing an old outdated data protection act.

As a Company, you must be informed about the GDPR regulations that determine how Companies should maintain the data privacy of EU consumers. GDPR also regulates the dissemination of personal data outside the EU, and for Companies that plan to operate in the EU from other regions.

Though a stringent act, GDPR sets new standards for data protection laws. It provides a new standard of consumer rights, where a consumer gets an upper hand over the companies on how their information is being collected, processed and utilized. GDPR regulations empower a user with-

• The right to transfer your data between service providers.

• User are well-informed about why particular information is being asked

• Users can demand to delete certain data information if they no longer wish it to be processed

• User is informed about any hack in the Company system

Therefore, to develop a GDPR compliant mobile app here is a GDPR checklist-

1. Determine important data requisition
   

   It is important you know what data you want to collect. As applications collect a lot of personal information, plan well in advance and collect data as specific to the application requirement.

2. Develop a proper privacy policy
   

   Collecting data is important, however, what is significant is to collect data with utmost transparency. As per GDPR regulations, the user should know why the specific data is being collected and if the data will be disseminated. Hence, set your Privacy Policy and clearly state all the terms and conditions about- how the data will be maintained, where it will be shared, the purpose and the process of data collected. Thus, you should provide the user with all the integral information.

3. Respond to Users
   

   GDPR regulations make it a mandate for Companies to respond to user queries. Known as the Subject Access Request, you have a month to respond to any queries, also, for any complicated requests, you have three months to respond. Thus, GDPR compliances also make mobile app companies customer-centric.

4. Third-Party agreements
   

   As a mobile app development company if you are required to send data to external parties you are required to state all information beforehand. This includes where data is being shared, the purpose and the accountability of it. However, you also have to ensure that all the third-party services and SDKs are GDPR compliant. If not, any breach of data even from your third parties is solely your responsibility. You are required to maintain all safety measures to avoid any such infringement for your users.

5. Encryption
   

   If you’re collecting data, your data needs to be encrypted. If you build applications, you must ensure that you have SSL for all your app communications. As a mobile development company, you need to ensure that the data collected and stored both are encrypted.

6. Cookies should be destroyed
   

   You should provide your users with the option of accepting or denying cookies. Also, the cookies stored should be destroyed once your users have logged out. They should not be stored or used for any purpose.

7. No tracking of users browsing data
   

   As e-commerce companies track the web data of users for offering products and services, GDPR regulations make it mandatory for app Companies to provide users with the option of accepting or rejecting the tracking ability. Along with, for users accepting the tracking system, GDPR compliant mobile applications should inform the users about how the data is saved and how it would be retained. It should ensure the data is well encrypted.

8. Deleting data
   

   According to GDPR regulations, Article 17 of the GDPR laws provides the ‘right to be forgotten’. Companies are required to delete the data of the users who choose to delete their accounts or cancel the services. Companies need to respect the privacy of the user’s data and delete all the information. They must avoid using any kind of user information further for soliciting business. Users should be able to witness that all their data has been deleted once they have canceled the services.

9. Documentation
   

   Article 30 of the GDPR states that mobile app companies need to record all data collected comprehensively. You are required to maintain a proper log of all data information, IP address, data storage requirements, third=party services, and justifying why the data is being collected. Records should be maintained thoroughly from the beginning.

10. Clear consent
    

    Under GDPR, it is important that you ask your users for permission for any data related activity you aim to conduct. Whether it is for advertising or marketing purposes, any such requirement in your application requires a clear consent of the users.

    For companies looking to operate in the EU or with data from the EU, it is a must to build a GDPR compliant app. Along with, a GDPR application ensures to develop a standard and enhanced customer service ability for Companies with complete transparency.