Do you need to display an EULA when using Flurry/Google Analytics? [closed]

Question

I hear different things from different people on that topic and nobody is really sure. Also a quick google search doesn't reveal anything informative.

The question is: when using Flurry Analytics (or Google Analytics or whatever analytics tool) in an Android App. Do I need to inform the users in form an EULA or something similar that is shown on first app start and has to be accepted?

The stats collected are completely anonymous, so most people say you don't have to show an EULA. But what's the truth now?

Answer 1

The terms of service of google analytics state that:

You will have and abide by an appropriate privacy policy and will comply with all applicable laws relating to the collection of information from visitors to Your websites. You must post a privacy policy and that policy must provide notice of your use of a cookie that collects anonymous traffic data.

Also on the Android SDK page they say:

You must indicate to your users, either in the application itself or in your terms of service, that you reserve the right to anonymously track and report a user's activity inside of your app. Your use of the Google Analytics SDK is additionally governed by the Google Analytics Terms of Service, which you must agree to when signing up for an account.

I would say you must show some kind of EULA, maybe not at first launch but in some kind of about view but it must be present somewhere.

I spared one sentence in my application description in the market, informing the user that if he uses the app data will be collected. If it would be more than a small regional app with not 100 users yet I would put the agreement in the app and have a opt out possibility.

Answer 2

I have one application on the market which does use Flurry. I place in the settings an option to opt-out, because you know, I like my users. Additionally, on first launch I pop up, letting users know that each subsequent launch, analytics will be enabled, and give them a resource to explain how to turn it off.

This is done more as a courtesy, but even if it were required, I'd gladly do it. I'm a user too, and I want to control whether or not data about my device (even though it's only the model, the country you're in (I don't use GPS for instance, so I just get country/continent level), and things like errors/events. I'm mostly interested in crashes and my events especially, but the countries charts give me an idea as to where I might want to look at further localization.

Answer 3

I don't believe there is a requirement to do so, but it is my opinion that if you are going to be sending analytical data obtained from a user's phone you should let the user know this and give them a way to opt out.