France’s data protection authority, CNIL, has announced that mobile applications will be a top compliance priority in 2025. Since early spring 2025 the regulator has launched a dedicated investigation campaign targeting mobile apps. These audits inspect closely all stakeholders involved – from the app publishers and developers to third-party SDK providers, app stores, and operating system vendors, to ensure GDPR requirements are being met.
The reason? Mobile apps pose greater privacy risks than websites
CNIL notes that the mobile environment poses heightened privacy risks: apps can access more sensitive personal data (like real-time location, photos, or health info) than typical websites. The new guidelines therefore clarify each stakeholder’s legal responsibilities and provide practical steps to protect user data.
What are the objectives of CNIL?
1. Clarify stakeholder responsibilities
CNIL aims to ensure that every actor’s responsibilities in the mobile ecosystem are clearly defined, which also facilitates better coordination among stakeholders.
2.Improve user transparency around data processing
Users should be presented with clear, timely and accessible information on how their data will be used.
3.Ensure consent is obtained and freely given
Any personal data not strictly necessary for the app’s core functions must only be processed with prior user consent. Consent must be freely given, not forced, and users must be able to refuse or withdraw it at any time.
How consentmanager can help you stay one step ahead
Compliance audits targeting mobile applications, such as those conducted by the CNIL, are becoming more frequent. For app providers, non-compliance can result in significant fines and reputational damage. The best way to stay ahead of upcoming audits is to take proactive steps now. Last month, we launched our new App Monitor, a powerful tool designed to help you monitor the compliance status of all your mobile apps.
With consentmanager’s App Monitor, you can:
- Analyse SDK activity and third-party data access
- Detect misconfigurations that could lead to compliance violations
- Identify and prioritise compliance risks with clear severity ratings and actionable remediation steps
- and more!
The App Monitor builds on our trusted Compliance Monitor for websites and brings the same level of oversight to the mobile environment. You can access it directly within your existing consentmanager dashboard.
Addressing any issues by auditing your app in advance can help you to ensure that it meets CNIL’s requirements, avoid unexpected – and preventable – fines, and maintain your focus on developing and enhancing your product.
The following links may be helpful:
https://www.consentmanager.net/en/knowledge/compliance-monitor-apps/
https://www.consentmanager.net/en/compliance-monitor/
https://help.consentmanager.net/books/cmp/page/introduction-monitors
