With Black Friday and the all important holiday shopping season right around the corner, consumers will be flocking to ecommerce apps in order to make their purchases easier than might have been the case otherwise. In spite of the fact that this is the case, many apps collect vast quantities of user data, thereby making it rather necessary for consumers to obtain a clear understanding of which platforms gather the most information about their buying practices.
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Amazon and eBay are unsurprisingly at the top of this list. eBay alone collects 28 specific data points, with Amazon coming in at a close second with 25 data points. These types of data range from financial information to user locations, and it is essential that consumers be made aware of the manner in which their data might end up being used.
According to AtlasVPN, Afterpay comes in third by collecting 22 different data points with all things having been considered and taken into account. Following this, Lowe’s, iHerb and Vinted are all tied in fourth place with 21 data types, with Home Depot and Alibaba rounding off the top five list with 20 data points each.
Afterpay is somewhat unique in that it doesn’t just collect data across seven types, it also shares this data, which includes in-app messages, SMS and emails, with third parties. Such a practice is concerning because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up infringing on the privacy of consumers all around the world. As a Buy Now, Pay Later app, Afterpay is one of many platforms that consumers need to be wary of as they do their holiday shopping.
All in all, AtlasVPN analyzed 60 apps in order to ascertain which ones collect the most data of all. This revealed that 75% of the apps they studied take part in data collection practices and also sharing them with third parties, with 52% using app activity data and 38% utilizing performance data for the purposes of improving user experiences across the board.
However, 58% of these apps also shared personal information with outside parties. A user’s home address could end up in the wrong hands due to this, which is something worth keeping in mind.
Read next: Handful of Companies Hold Sway Over AI's Future Concerning Tech Experts
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Amazon and eBay are unsurprisingly at the top of this list. eBay alone collects 28 specific data points, with Amazon coming in at a close second with 25 data points. These types of data range from financial information to user locations, and it is essential that consumers be made aware of the manner in which their data might end up being used.
According to AtlasVPN, Afterpay comes in third by collecting 22 different data points with all things having been considered and taken into account. Following this, Lowe’s, iHerb and Vinted are all tied in fourth place with 21 data types, with Home Depot and Alibaba rounding off the top five list with 20 data points each.
Afterpay is somewhat unique in that it doesn’t just collect data across seven types, it also shares this data, which includes in-app messages, SMS and emails, with third parties. Such a practice is concerning because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up infringing on the privacy of consumers all around the world. As a Buy Now, Pay Later app, Afterpay is one of many platforms that consumers need to be wary of as they do their holiday shopping.
All in all, AtlasVPN analyzed 60 apps in order to ascertain which ones collect the most data of all. This revealed that 75% of the apps they studied take part in data collection practices and also sharing them with third parties, with 52% using app activity data and 38% utilizing performance data for the purposes of improving user experiences across the board.
However, 58% of these apps also shared personal information with outside parties. A user’s home address could end up in the wrong hands due to this, which is something worth keeping in mind.
Read next: Handful of Companies Hold Sway Over AI's Future Concerning Tech Experts
