Google fails to bring Privacy Labels to Gmail, Maps and other iOS apps even after promising an update

Google has pushed a server side update that removes the out of date warning when attempting to sign into a new account in the Gmail app. But it still doesn’t get the privacy label.

Gmail app. (Unsplash)

Google last year promised that its suite of apps will be updated with privacy labels in order to comply with the App Store rule that Apple started enforcing on developers from December last year. Since then, although several Google apps have received updates, they still don't list the privacy information and don't have a privacy label. One of the most used apps, Gmail, falls in the same list. As discovered by Techmeme editor, Spencer Dailey, it recently started displaying a warning that its latest security features are unavailable. The warning showed up when you opened a new account in the Gmail app for iOS. The warning mentioned that you should update the app and continue with sign in if you understand the risks.

However, Google has pushed a server side update that removes the out of date warning when attempting to sign into a new account in the Gmail app. But it still doesn't get the privacy label.

Google is now telling users its apps are out of date (despite no updates being available)https://t.co/o7UXCzttfo pic.twitter.com/WXmAZ1Se4h

— Spencer Dailey (@SpencerDailey) February 10, 2021

For now, version 6.0.201115 is the only available version of Gmail on both iPhone and iPad and it hasn't been updated since December 1. Although Google on January 5 confirmed that it will add privacy data by “this week or next week.” It did not update most of them until late January.

We saw YouTube getting the new label but major ones like Gmail, Google Search, Google Photos, Google Maps and others still don't have privacy details.

It is not for sure why Google is taking so long in adding privacy labels to its iOS apps. There is also no word when exactly Gmail will get an update. According to a speculation, Google is not providing the privacy data because of the negative feedback that companies like Facebook have received over the weeks.

For those unaware, privacy labels have been made mandatory ever since iOS 14.3. The aim of these are to provide customers with details about what data is taken from them, so they can be more informed while installing that particular app.