Google today updated its iOS YouTube app for the first time in more than two months, becoming one of the top-profile Google apps to see an update from early December when Apple began ask developers to publish privacy practices for each of their apps to approve their updates.
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Most Google apps have not been updated yet since the requirement was implemented, even though Google said in early January that it would be adding privacy data for its apps within the app. next week or so.
Google had already added privacy information for the YouTube app ahead of today’s update, as highlighted earlier this month by Apple Terminal. However, it’s interesting that the app itself has seen its first update since December 7, as Google has usually pushed updates for the YouTube app every week or two.
Many other major Google apps such as Google, Google Chrome, Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Meet have not been updated yet and privacy information is not displayed on their App Store listings. Google-owned Waze updated its iOS app a few days ago, adding privacy information as part of the update as required by Apple.
Google has denied that it is withholding iOS app updates to delay the disclosure of its privacy practices, but many users have found it hard to believe considering it. Suddenly slowed down app updates in line with Apple’s release date and ongoing updates for Google’s several Android apps.
Earlier this week, the iOS Gmail app even started displaying “out of date” alerts when trying to add a new account, even if a new version of the app doesn’t and the Gmail iOS app has not been updated since December 1st.