As with food packaging, such labels should provide users with a better understanding of what data the application will access, even before the program is downloaded from the App Store. The essence of this innovation lies in the fact that, although the developers are obliged to disclose this information, all data about the collected information are registered by them on their own, which leaves the opportunity to cheat.

Apple’s website states that developers will be required to disclose all information they and their partners collect, and to update it regularly to keep tags up to date. For example, if the application uses GPS for operation, the user must know this even before downloading the program. If the positioning service support is “cut” from the program, the corresponding label should immediately disappear from the application page in the App Store.

Apple has already given users access to in-app permissions control, but app store labeling should be an even earlier line of defense. Developers can send labeling information to Apple now. December 8th is the deadline.