Gmail iOS app outdated after two months without updates, as Google delays privacy labels [Updated]

Although Google has promised to update its range of apps with App Privacy Labels to comply with the App Store rules that Apple launched in December, many of its top apps have gone months without an update and still contain no privacy information.

It’s been so long since Google last updated the Gmail app, that Gmail is now warning that the latest security features are not available. As discovered by Techmeme editor Spencer Dailey, if you’re signing in to a new account in the Gmail app for iOS, it’s a warning that you need to update and suggests that you continue with the login only “if you understand the risks.”

Sorry, there is no update available for the Gmail application. Version 6.0.201115 of the Gmail app is the only available version of Gmail on the iPhone and iPad and has not been updated since December 1st.

Google claimed on January 5 that it would add privacy data to its app catalog “this week or next week,” but by January 20, most apps had not yet been updated with the App Privacy tags.

Google has since quietly added labels to apps like YouTube, but major apps like Gmail, Google Search, Google Photos, Google Maps and others do not yet have privacy details. Even in labeled programs, there were usually no feature or security updates.

It’s still unclear why Google takes so long to add App Privacy Labels to its iOS apps, and there’s no word yet on when Gmail will get an update. Google has regularly updated its Android apps and the last update for the Android Gmail app was released on February 9th.

It has been speculated that Google is reluctant to provide the privacy label data due to the negative feedback that other companies like Facebook have received, but there is still no confirmed explanation.

App privacy labels have been required since iOS 14.3 and are designed to give customers details about what data an app collects from them, allowing them to make an informed choice when choosing to install an app. App developers must themselves report privacy information in the ‌‌App Store‌‌, and developers must identify all data collection and use cases.

Update: Google has released an update to the server that removes the outdated alert when you try to sign in to a new account in the Gmail app.