Apple’s beloved privacy labels missing from the App Store, probably just a bug

Apple’s App Store privacy labels were launched a year ago. Apple created the App Store privacy labels to make it easier for users to understand and provide more detail about app privacy. These labels have disappeared mysteriously from both the Mac App Store and App Store.

As noted by a Twitter user and confirmed by 9to5Mac staff, the privacy labels are gone from apps that previously adopted them.

These privacy “nutrition labels” were first introduced at WWDC 2020, with Apple saying the goal was to better inform consumers of the privacy practices of individual applications. The App Privacy labels are divided into three sections: “data used to track you,” “data linked to you,” and “data not linked to you.”

It is important to give a clear overview of the privacy policies used by an app in order to build trust and confidence with users. App developers now have an opportunity to provide details about their apps’ privacy practices in the App Shop. This includes the data collected, the sharing of that data with third parties and whether users can opt out.

At that time, Apple had emphasized that there are several different pieces of important information that developers should remember while preparing the App Privacy “nutrition labels” for their applications:

• Developers should identify all possible data collections and uses, even if certain data will be collected and used only in limited situations.
• Developers’ answers should follow the App Store Review Guidelines and any applicable laws.
• Developers are responsible for keeping your responses accurate and up to date. If your practices change, update your responses in App Store Connect.

9to5Mac reached out to Apple’s PR and will update the story once we hear what’s causing this bug – or whether this is just a new feature.