Every app you use collects data about you. That's not a secret — it's in the privacy policies. But the scope of that collection, and how it's used, varies dramatically across platforms. Some collect only what they need. Others collect everything they can.
ConductAtlas has indexed 2,100+ provisions across 170+ platform policies. Data collection provisions are among the most common — and the most consequential for consumer privacy.
What Platforms Collect
The most common data collection categories we've identified:
- Device and sensor data: Hardware identifiers, sensor readings, clipboard access, battery status
- Behavioral data: How you use the app, what you click, how long you spend on each screen
- Location data: Precise GPS, inferred location from IP address, movement patterns
- Communications data: Messages, call logs, contact lists
- Cross-platform tracking: Data collected when you're not actively using the app, through embedded trackers on third-party sites
The Regulatory Landscape
Data collection practices are governed by a complex web of regulations — GDPR in Europe, CCPA in California, COPPA for children's data, and sector-specific rules for health and financial data. Compliance teams need to understand not just what platforms collect, but what regulatory obligations that collection triggers.
ConductAtlas tracks regulatory exposure for each data collection provision — identifying which laws apply and what compliance actions may be required.