Google iOS App Updates Resume After Privacy Label Delay

Following a considerable postponement, Google has initiated updates to numerous of its prominent iOS applications. This delay stemmed from the company’s initial failure to incorporate Apple’s mandated privacy labels within the required timeframe.

Despite earlier statements indicating that labels would be added with subsequent app updates, several key Google properties, including Search, Photos, Assistant, Maps, Pay, and Chrome, remained without them for an extended period.

Apple’s Policy and its Impact

Apple’s established policy stipulates that developers are unable to release further updates until privacy labels are implemented. Consequently, Google was restricted from updating many of its leading applications for a duration exceeding its typical update cycle—particularly unusual for an organization of its scale that routinely issues minor updates for bug fixes and performance enhancements.

For instance, Gmail hadn’t seen an update for three months prior to the rollout that occurred this weekend.

Recent Updates and Tracking

Updates were also released this weekend for Slides, Docs, Sheets, and Calendar, as indicated on their respective iOS App Store listings. Furthermore, updates for other Google apps that had previously received labels—such as YouTube, YouTube TV, YouTube Music, Google Tasks, and Google Podcasts—have been resumed over the last few weeks.

A comprehensive tracking of Google’s app updates is maintained in a Google Sheet. (Appfigures has validated the accuracy of this spreadsheet against its own data.)

It’s important to note that privacy labels can be applied without necessitating an app update, making their implementation less immediately visible in some instances.

Apps Now Featuring Privacy Labels

Currently, the following Google iOS apps have been equipped with privacy labels:

• Google One
• Google Podcasts
• Google Stadia
• Google Fit
• Google Fi
• Google Tasks
• Google Chat
• Onduo
• Project Baseline
• YouTube
• YouTube TV
• YouTube Music
• YouTube Kids
• YouTube Studio
• Google Meet
• Google Smart Lock
• Motion Stills
• Google Fiber
• Google Ads
• Wear OS
• Google Calendar
• Google Classroom
• Google Slides
• Google Sheets
• Google Docs
• Google Drive
• Google Play Movies
• Google Home
• Fiber TV
• Google Translate
• Google Authenticator

Explanation for the Delay

Google initially attributed the delay in adding privacy labels to its customary year-end code freeze—a period during which app updates are paused while employees take time off.

However, as the delay extended over months, it became apparent that Google was adopting a more deliberate and cautious approach to implementing the labels compared to other major technology companies.

This approach has drawn increased attention and scrutiny to Google’s app update process.

Each instance of a Google app update accompanied by a label has garnered media coverage, as reported by Engadget regarding Gmail and other apps updated this weekend.

In January, Google addressed the growing curiosity surrounding the delays through a blog post, stating that its iOS apps would receive privacy labels with their next updates. However, the application of labels and the release of updates haven’t always coincided; Gmail, for example, received its label on February 22nd but wasn’t updated until recently.

The number of apps with labels significantly exceeds the number of apps that have been updated.

Google has not yet provided a response to a request for comment.

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