--- title: Google Play Store Privacy Violation Risk Report - September 2024 description: "September 2024 Google Play Store Privacy Violation Risk Report: 12,000+ Apps With Open Programmatic Advertising Enabled Have No Detected Privacy Policies." image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Open%20Programmatic%20Ads%20and%20No%20Detected%20Privacy%20Policy%20Benchmarks%20-%20Google%20Play%20Store%20-%20September%202024.png --- [![pixalate-full-logo](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixalate_Logos/pixalate-full-logo.jpg?width=150&height=60&name=pixalate-full-logo.jpg "pixalate-full-logo")](https://www.pixalate.com) Search **Menu** ** ** ![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/pixalate-blog-bg.png) [Mobile Apps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/mobile-apps) | [Privacy](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/privacy) | 2 min read # Pixalate Releases September 2024 Google Play Store Privacy Violation Risk Report: Over 12,000 Apps With Open Programmatic Advertising Enabled Have No Detected Privacy Policies Written by [Pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/pixalate) Oct 30, 2024 3:30:00 PM Over 49 million estimated monthly active users are impacted across Google Play Store apps that are enabled for open programmatic advertising (i.e., apps with an app-ads.txt file) but have no detected privacy policies, according to Pixalate’s data   **LONDON – October 30, 2024** – [Pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/), the global market-leading ad fraud protection, privacy, and compliance analytics platform, today released the [September 2024 Open Programmatic Ads and No Detected Privacy Policy Benchmarks Report for the Google Play Store](https://www.pixalate.com/open-programmatic-ads-no-detected-privacy-policy-benchmarks-google-play-store), part of Pixalate’s Privacy Violation Risks in Mobile Apps series. The report reveals new findings on the number of Google Play Store hosted mobile apps enabled for open programmatic advertising (i.e., apps with an app-ads.txt file) but have no detected privacy policies, according to Pixalate’s data. Pixalate also released an [Apple App Store version of the report](https://www.pixalate.com/open-programmatic-ads-no-detected-privacy-policy-benchmarks-apple-app-store). A privacy policy, also known as a ‘privacy statement’ or ‘notice,’ is an essential document often required to be disclosed under multiple global privacy laws and regulations, including the GDPR, CCPA, and more. It outlines how users’ personal data is handled by organizations and discloses individuals’ data privacy rights. ## Key Findings - **Over 12,000 **Google Play Store apps with ads (an app-ads.txt file) failed to provide a detectable privacy policy.  - **170** Google Play Store apps with ads were found without Privacy Policy URLs in the Play Store and only shared developer website hyperlinks; the developer website hyperlinks did not disclose privacy policies, according to Pixalate’s analysis. - Mobile apps without detected privacy policies accumulated over **1.4 billion** estimated user downloads. - An estimated **49.2 million** Monthly Active Users (MAUs) **interact with** Play Store apps with ads but no detected privacy policies. - Over **5,100 **unique mobile app developers published over **12,000** apps with ads lacking detected privacy policies. - Over **5,900** Google Play Store apps with ads and no detected privacy policies do not list a country of registration in the Play Store. Pixalate’s data science team analyzed over 587,000 mobile apps available for download across the Google Play Store in September 2024 to compile this research. ## Download the Reports - [Google Play Store](https://www.pixalate.com/open-programmatic-ads-no-detected-privacy-policy-benchmarks-google-play-store) - [Apple App Store](https://www.pixalate.com/open-programmatic-ads-no-detected-privacy-policy-benchmarks-apple-app-store) **About Pixalate** Pixalate is the market-leading fraud protection, privacy, and compliance analytics platform for Connected TV (CTV) and Mobile Advertising. We work 24/7 to guard your reputation and grow your media value. Pixalate offers the only system of coordinated solutions across display, app, video, and CTV for better detection and elimination of ad fraud. Pixalate is an MRC-accredited service for the detection and filtration of sophisticated invalid traffic (SIVT) across desktop and mobile web, mobile in-app, and CTV advertising. [www.pixalate.com](https://www.pixalate.com)  **Disclaimer** *The content of this press release, and the September 2024 Open Programmatic Ads and No Detected Privacy Policy Benchmarks Report (the ‘report’)– including all content set forth herein – reflects Pixalate’s opinions with respect to subject matter that Pixalate believes may be useful to the digital media industry, inclusive of advertisers, advertising technology companies, developers of mobile applications, professional advisors, non-governmental entities, and regulators. Pixalate is sharing this report’s data–and opinions relating thereto–not to impugn the standing or reputation of any entity, person, or app, but, instead, to report opinions and suggest trends pertaining to certain apps available for download via the Google Play Store during the time period studied. Any data shared herein is grounded in Pixalate’s proprietary technology and compliance analytics, which Pixalate is continuously evaluating and updating. Any references to outside sources should not be construed as endorsements. Pixalate’s opinions are just that: opinions (i.e., they are neither facts nor guarantees). Pixalate's opinions regarding possible applicability of, legal obligations under, and compliance with applicable data protection and privacy laws and regulations are for informational purposes only, and are not offered as legal advice. Nothing in this report: (i) is intended to constitute professional and/or legal advice; (ii) actually constitutes professional and/or legal advice; or (ii) sets forth a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto.* ### Search Blog Search ### Follow Pixalate ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) Previous Story [← Pixalate's COPPA Manual Reviews: ‘Clash Royale'](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/app-review-series-clash-royale) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [Pixalate Releases September 2024 Web Publisher Trust Index Revealing the Top 100 Websites for Open Programmatic Ad Traffic Quality Across 235+ Countries, 4 Regions & 20+ IAB Categories →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/global-web-publisher-trust-index-september-2024) ## You May Also Like These Stories on Mobile Apps [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Abandoned%20Mobile%20Apps%20Report%20-%20blog%20cover.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalate-releases-may-2026-global-abandoned-mobile-apps-report) [Mobile Apps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/mobile-apps) ### [Pixalate Releases May 2026 Global Abandoned Mobile Apps Report: “Draw In™” at the top on Apple App Store, “GUNSHIP BATTLE: Helicopter 3D” tops Google Play Store](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalate-releases-may-2026-global-abandoned-mobile-apps-report) Jun 24, 2026 9:00:02 AM | 3 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog%20Media/2026%20Covers%20and%20Images/MONTHLY%20MOST%20COMMON%20MOBILE%20AD%20FRAUD%20TYPES%20GOOGLE%20-%20APPLE%20BLOG%20COVER.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalates-may-2026-most-common-mobile-app-ad-fraud-types) [Ad Fraud](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/ad-fraud) ### [Pixalate Releases May 2026 Most Common Mobile App Ad Fraud Types: ‘High Risk Device ID’ Most Common Type Across Google Play Store (32%); ‘High Risk IP’ Most Common on Apple App Store (48%)](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalates-may-2026-most-common-mobile-app-ad-fraud-types) Jun 9, 2026 9:00:00 AM | 2 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog%20Media/2026%20Covers%20and%20Images/MONTHLY%20TOP%20MOBILE%20AD%20FRAUD%20TYPES%20GOOGLE%20-%20APPLE%20BLOG%20COVER.jpg) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalates-april-2026-most-common-mobile-app-ad-fraud-types) [Ad Fraud](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/ad-fraud) ### [Pixalate Releases April 2026 Most Common Mobile App Ad Fraud Types: ‘High Risk Device ID’ Most Common Type Across Google Play Store (28%); ‘High Risk IP’ Most Common on Apple App Store (23%)](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalates-april-2026-most-common-mobile-app-ad-fraud-types) May 18, 2026 9:00:00 AM | 2 min read ** ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) ![pixalate-logo-red-small](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2018NewTemplate/pixalate-logo-red-small.png?width=208&name=pixalate-logo-red-small.png "pixalate-logo-red-small") ** By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) Products [Analytics](https://www.pixalate.com/products/analytics) [Blocking](https://www.pixalate.com/products/blocking) [Media Rating Terminal](https://www.pixalate.com/products/mrt) [Publisher Trust Indexes](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=publisherTrustIndex) [Seller Trust Indexes](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=publisherTrustIndex) [IoT Device Rankings](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=iotDeviceReach) Resources [Blog](https://blog.pixalate.com/) [Press](https://www.pixalate.com/press) [Careers](https://www.pixalate.com/jobs) [Team](https://info.pixalate.com/pixalate-leadership-team) Contact Email [** sales@pixalate.com ](mailto:sales@pixalate.com) [** privacy@pixalate.com ](mailto:privacy@pixalate.com) US: [** +1 888 749 2528 ](tel:+1%20888%20749%202528) EU: [** +44 (0)800 011 2050 ](tel:+44%20(0)800%20011%202050) Slack: [Join ATSAPI Slack Channel ](https://atsapi-pixalate.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-10dtow5cj-OEtlNr5yzJkrZMQUqcEEow#/shared-invite/email) Offices Global Offices US 1775 Greensboro Station Place, Suite 425, McLean, VA 22102 UK 20 North Audley Street London, W1K 6WE, United Kingdom EU 10 Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2, D02 T380, Ireland Singapore 10 Anson Road, #22-02 International Plaza, Singapore 079903 [![facebook](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/facebook.png) ](https://www.facebook.com/pixalate) [![x](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/twitter-x.png) ](https://twitter.com/pixalateinc) [![linkedin](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/linkedin.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/pixalate) ![wechat](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/wechat.png) [![slack](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/slack.png) ](https://atsapi-pixalate.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-10dtow5cj-OEtlNr5yzJkrZMQUqcEEow#/shared-invite/email) [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) [GDPR Compliance](https://www.pixalate.com/gdpr) Disclaimer Copyright © 2025 Pixalate [Back to top **](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/google-play-privacy-violation-risk-report-september-2024#) # Disclaimer Disclaimer: The content of this page reflects Pixalate’s opinions with respect to the factors that Pixalate believes can be useful to the digital media industry. 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