Amid privacy concern, govt may curb collection of data by apps

The government is understood to be looking at prohibiting mobile applications from collecting user information beyond their area of functioning, the move coming in the backdrop of concerns around data handling and user privacy, including at the hands of American internet giants Facebook and WhatsApp and scores of top international and Chinese apps.

Sources told TOI the Centre has begun work on a policy that would stop mobile and internet apps to collect information that is “not necessary” for their functioning.