Developers can track precise location through app permissions and broadcasting precise GPS coordinates to data brokers in the ad ecosystem without obtaining parental consent.
High rates of ad fraud in apps signal malicious - and often undisclosed - third-party integrations that may harvest your child's personal information.
Many developers bypass mandatory safety checkpoints, collecting personal information from children without ever notifying parents or obtaining the necessary legal permission under COPPA.
Is the developer identifiable? Do they provide contact information or hide behind anonymous registrations?
Does the developer have accessible privacy policies? Do likely child-directed apps have parental consent mechanisms?
Do the developer's apps request location permissions that could track children's movements? Are precise geolocation coordinates broadcast to advertisers and data brokers?
Has the developer had apps removed from stores? Do they have abandoned apps with no updates in 3+ years?
Is the developer linked to invalid traffic or ad fraud, which increases risk of undisclosed data sharing?
Before downloading any app for your child, check the developer's safety record. See their complete portfolio, not just one app's star rating.
Vet developers before approving apps for classroom use and protect student data from unauthorized collection.
Vet supply partners before revenue takes a hit. Filter high-risk developers from your ad inventory.
Identify developers with a high risk of regulatory breaches and support investigations with data-backed evidence.
Make it a routine: before adding any new app, search the developer on KYD. It takes 30 seconds and can reveal risks that star ratings don't show.
Go through your child's installed apps and check which ones have location access. Ask yourself: Does a puzzle game really need to know where my child lives?
Check for pattern problems One app with location permissions is one thing, but all 10 apps in a children’s game developer portfolio requesting precise location and sharing geolocation coordinates with third parties is another.
Apps that haven't been updated in years may have security vulnerabilities. Check if the developer is actively maintaining their products.
If a developer hides their identity or lacks a privacy policy, that's a red flag. There's always an alternative app from a more transparent developer.
Explain why you're checking apps together. When children understand the "why," they become partners in their own safety.
