Data Privacy, Transparency and the Data-Driven Transformation of Games to Services

This paper discusses the role of mobile app platforms in the data-driven business models of game app companies, in light of the questions about data privacy and transparency raised in this context. The paper provides a new insight into this question, on the basis of an exploratory study of popular gaming apps and an analysis of the relationship between Apple and Google’s mobile ecosystems and mobile apps in terms of the monetisation of personal data. Additionally, the study draws upon filings made with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which shed light on the crucial role of personal data in the mobile app economy.