Delisted apps can pose a risk to consumer privacy and the overall quality of the app ecosystem. Even after being removed from the app stores, these apps may still be installed on users’ devices and continue to collect personal information. Additionally, advertising revenue directed towards these apps can incentivize and perpetuate privacy risks. Now a new report by fraud protection platform Pixalate analysed delisted apps on the Roku and Amazon Fire TV app stores to examine the characteristics of the apps.
54% rise in delisted apps
Over 2,000 apps were delisted from Roku (1.9k+) and Amazon Fire TV (28) in Q1 2023. This represents a 54% increase YoY from Q1 2022.
Pixalate’s analysis also revealed that VlogBox, Inc. was the developer of 664 of the delisted Roku apps, while OKKO developed 411 delisted Roku apps. Additionally, 250 (12%) of all delisted Roku and Amazon Fire TV apps included “Screensaver” or “Wallpaper” in the app title.
Delisted apps pose a risk to consumer privacy and the overall quality of the app ecosystem. Pixalate believes that benchmarking this metric is essential because advertising revenue directed towards these apps can incentivize and perpetuate privacy risks. In total, $3.3 million in estimated ad spend was directed towards delisted apps, all of which occurred on delisted Roku apps. No advertising was observed on delisted Amazon Fire TV apps.
Amazon Fire TV app
Source: Shutterstock
What it means for user privacy?
The findings of Pixalate’s analysis underline the importance of transparency and privacy compliance in the app ecosystem. As privacy violations and transparency concerns were found to be the primary reasons why apps are delisted, the analysis suggests that developers who fail to comply with regulations related to data privacy and advertising transparency are likely to have their apps removed from the app stores.
The report provides valuable insights into how app developers can improve their compliance practices to avoid delisting and ensure the protection of user privacy.
Firstly, developers can add comprehensive privacy policies that clearly explain what data is being collected, how it is being used, and with whom it is being shared. Privacy policies should be easily accessible and prominently displayed within the app.
Secondly, developers should implement robust transparency practices to provide users with greater control over their data. This could include offering users the option to opt-out of data collection and sharing, as well as providing clear and concise explanations of how data is being used within the app.
Thirdly, they should stay up-to-date with the latest privacy regulations and guidelines in their region and ensure that their apps comply with these regulations. This could include complying with data retention policies, obtaining explicit consent from users before collecting and using their data, and implementing appropriate data security measures to protect user information.
Key takeaways
- 2,000+ apps delisted from Roku and Amazon Fire TV
- 54% YoY increase in delisted apps from Q1 2022
- $3.3 million estimated ad spend on delisted apps
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