Google provided a bug fix for its YouTube iOS app, the first update to a major Google iOS app since December, 9to5Google reports. While there is speculation that the reason for the lack of updates for the iOS versions of Gmail, Docs, Search and Photos is an attempt to avoid Apple’s new privacy labels, Google has explicitly denied that is the case. The company said in a January 12 blog post that it would add the labels to its applications when updates were available:
As Google’s iOS apps are updated with new features or to fix bugs, you’ll see updates on our list of app pages that include the new App Privacy Details. These labels represent the maximum categories of data that can be collected – that is, if you use all the features and services available in the application. The data you provide to Google products provides useful services to you, and you can always control your privacy settings by visiting your Google Account or going directly to the Google products you use on iOS.
Apple requires companies to apply privacy labels, released on December 14, before they can update existing iOS applications. Some of Google’s other apps – Stadia, Authenticator, Translate and Classroom, for example – have already received iOS updates.
We contacted Google to ask if there are updates for the iOS versions of Gmail, Search, Docs and Photos, and we will report back if we know more.