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Mobile applications and access to private data: The supply side of the Android ecosystem

Author

Listed:
  • Kesler, Reinhold
  • Kummer, Michael E.
  • Schulte, Patrick

Abstract

We analyze the data collection strategies of 65,000 developers in the market for mobile applications and track 300,000 applications over four years. Many apps belong to developers with multiple apps. This fact generates variation in the privacy behaviors of the same developer for our analysis. We uncover three stylized facts: First, developers "learn" to use increasingly intrusive data strategies as they become more experienced. Second, intrusive data collection is most likely in apps that target the 13+, and 16+ age category, which raises concerns for the protection of young app consumers. Third, even within developers, critical and atypical permissions predict problematic usage of private user data most successfully. Our findings inform both regulators and scientists who wish to model supply in the market for mobile apps.

Suggested Citation

  • Kesler, Reinhold & Kummer, Michael E. & Schulte, Patrick, 2017. "Mobile applications and access to private data: The supply side of the Android ecosystem," ZEW Discussion Papers 17-075, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:17075
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Tomislav Kristof & Zlatan Moric & Luka Maras, 2018. "Human Digital Index," International Journal of Digital Technology and Economy, Algebra University College, vol. 3(2), pages 95-122, December.
    2. Kohei Kawaguchi & Toshifumi Kuroda & Susumu Sato, 2021. "Merger Analysis in the App Economy: An Empirical Model of Ad-Sponsored Media," HKUST CEP Working Papers Series 202103, HKUST Center for Economic Policy.
    3. Stephen Jarman & Deniz D. Karaman Örsal, 2020. "The regulation of zero-price markets by the competition authorities in the USA and the EU," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, , vol. 21(4), pages 315-343, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mobile Applications; Developers; Learning; Data Collection; Privacy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance
    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities
    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation
    • D29 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Other

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