Reviewing the data security and privacy policies of mobile apps for depression

Internet Interventions : the Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health
Kristen O'LoughlinStephen M Schueller

Abstract

Mobile apps have become popular resources for mental health support. Availability of information about developers' data security procedures for health apps, specifically those targeting mental health, has not been thoroughly investigated. If people are to use and trust these tools for their mental health, it is crucial we evaluate the transparency and quality around the data practices of these apps. The present study reviewed data security and privacy policies of mobile apps for depression. We reviewed mobile apps retrieved from iTunes and Google Play stores in October 2017, using the term "depression", and evaluated the transparency of data handling procedures of those apps. We identified 116 eligible mobile phone apps. Of those, 4% (5/116) received a transparency score of acceptable, 28% (32/116) questionable, and 68% (79/116) unacceptable. Only a minority of the apps (49%) had a privacy policy. The availability of policies differed significantly by platform, with apps from iTunes more likely to have a policy than from the Google Play store. Mobile apps collecting identifiable information were significantly more likely to have a privacy policy (79%) compared to those collecting only non-identifiable information (34%). The maj...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 3, 2020·JMIR MHealth and UHealth·Ignacio MirallesSven Casteleyn
Apr 29, 2020·The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics : a Journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics·Michael LangMa'n H Zawati
Aug 22, 2020·Yearbook of Medical Informatics·Hannah K Galvin, Paul R DeMuro
Jan 3, 2020·European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience·Giovanni Rubeis
Jan 11, 2020·International Journal of Bipolar Disorders·Michael BauerPeter C Whybrow
Feb 6, 2020·JMIR Mental Health·Chengcheng QuGavin Doherty
Jun 13, 2019·Sensors·Chih-Yung ChenChing-His Tseng
May 28, 2020·JMIR MHealth and UHealth·Jaime BenjumeaAlejandro Carrasco
Feb 24, 2021·European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing : Journal of the Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing of the European Society of Cardiology·Alice PearsonsLis Neubeck
Apr 10, 2021·Science and Engineering Ethics·Olga ChivilginaFabrice Jotterand
Sep 15, 2021·Journal of Medical Internet Research·Judith BorghoutsDara H Sorkin
Oct 8, 2021·Informatics for Health & Social Care·Richard May, Kerstin Denecke
Jan 28, 2022·JMIR MHealth and UHealth·Rachele Hendricks-Sturrup

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Software Mentioned

Google Play iTunes
Google Play / Android iTunes
Google Play
Happtique
Enlight Evaluation
PsyberGuide
One Mind
Cambridge Analytica
iTunes
Enlight

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