Assessing the Compliance of Mobile Applications with Personal Data Privacy Regulations: An Analytical Study

Abstract

The widespread use of technology has led to the need for data protection frameworks to regulate the collection, processing, sharing, and disposal of personal data. This study assesses the compliance of 66 Hajj and Umrah-related mobile applications with the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), focusing on applications available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. As a pioneering assessment in the religious tourism sector, this study examines the extent to which these applications meet the requirements of the PDPL, including consent, user rights, and data security. The findings show significant deficiencies in app developers' adherence to both user personal data requirements and user data protection principles, with compliance rates ranging from 18.2% to 33.3% and from 12.1% to 33.3%, respectively. These findings indicate the lack of data protection protocols in app development, underlining the vital need for developers to strictly adhere to personal data protection standards. The study emphasizes the crucial importance of preserving user personal information and encourages developers to prioritize data security, thus enhancing trust in the digital experiences of pilgrims.