When Is a Privacy Policy Required for an App? Scenarios & Answers
Legal and store obligations vary by feature and region. This guide lists clear scenarios that trigger a policy requirement and provides short, actionable guidance.
Immediate triggers that require a policy
- Collecting personal information (email, name, address)
- Using analytics or crash reporting
- Integrating ad networks that use identifiers
- Storing or transmitting user‑generated content
- Targeting children under COPPA
Regional legal triggers
- GDPR (EU): Any personal data processing of EU residents
- CCPA (California): Certain data sales/sharing and rights for residents
- Other national laws may apply — always check major markets
Store-specific guidance
Apple: privacy policy URL is required if your app collects user data; Google: required for apps that access sensitive permissions or handle user data. Paste the hosted URL in the appropriate console field.