A new study by Surfshark reveals a significant disparity in how the world’s largest technology companies handle personal information. After analyzing 171 Apple App Store apps from Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, researchers found that Meta’s apps are the most “data-hungry,” collecting an average of 25 out of 35 possible data types, more than triple the average of Apple (7) or Microsoft (8).
The study analyzed apps across 35 unique data categories, ranging from precise location and browsing history to purchase data linked to user identity. Company averages varied widely: Meta’s apps collected 25 data types on average, followed by Google with 17, Amazon with 12, Microsoft with 8, and Apple with 7. The sample included 44 Google apps, 41 Apple apps, 40 Microsoft apps, 34 Amazon apps, and 12 Meta apps.
The seven most data-hungry apps in the study were all developed by Meta. Meta AI collected 33 data types, followed by Meta Horizon, Meta Business Suite, Meta Ads Manager, Messenger, Forum, and Facebook with 32 each. Notably, all of this data is linked directly to the user’s identity.
Google dominates TOP 40 ranking while Microsoft and Apple remain the least data-hungry
Google accounted for 29 of the 40 most data-hungry apps in the study, compared with 9 from Meta and 2 from Amazon. Google apps in that group collected between 18 and 26 data types each. Although Google’s apps collected fewer data types on average than Meta’s, its presence across the ranking highlights the scale of data collection throughout its extensive app ecosystem. Meanwhile, Amazon Alexa was the most data-hungry non-Meta app, collecting 28 data types.
Microsoft and Apple consistently ranked as the least data-hungry developers across app categories. Microsoft ranked either the least or second-least data-hungry developer in most categories, with the lone exception of Graphics & Design. Apple covered the widest range of categories (15 in total) and consistently ranked as the least data-hungry developer. For example, Apple’s 13 Utilities apps collected an average of 6 data types, compared with 17 for Google’s Utilities apps.
To see a more detailed profile of each Big Tech company, please see the blog post: https://surfshark.com/research/study/big-tech-data-collection
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Meta and Google are the most data-hungry Big Tech companies
A new study by Surfshark reveals a significant disparity in how the world’s largest technology companies handle personal information. After analyzing 171 Apple App Store apps from Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, researchers found that Meta’s apps are the most “data-hungry,” collecting an average of 25 out of 35 possible data types, more than triple the average of Apple (7) or Microsoft (8).
The study analyzed apps across 35 unique data categories, ranging from precise location and browsing history to purchase data linked to user identity. Company averages varied widely: Meta’s apps collected 25 data types on average, followed by Google with 17, Amazon with 12, Microsoft with 8, and Apple with 7. The sample included 44 Google apps, 41 Apple apps, 40 Microsoft apps, 34 Amazon apps, and 12 Meta apps.
The seven most data-hungry apps in the study were all developed by Meta. Meta AI collected 33 data types, followed by Meta Horizon, Meta Business Suite, Meta Ads Manager, Messenger, Forum, and Facebook with 32 each. Notably, all of this data is linked directly to the user’s identity.
Google dominates TOP 40 ranking while Microsoft and Apple remain the least data-hungry
Google accounted for 29 of the 40 most data-hungry apps in the study, compared with 9 from Meta and 2 from Amazon. Google apps in that group collected between 18 and 26 data types each. Although Google’s apps collected fewer data types on average than Meta’s, its presence across the ranking highlights the scale of data collection throughout its extensive app ecosystem. Meanwhile, Amazon Alexa was the most data-hungry non-Meta app, collecting 28 data types.
Microsoft and Apple consistently ranked as the least data-hungry developers across app categories. Microsoft ranked either the least or second-least data-hungry developer in most categories, with the lone exception of Graphics & Design. Apple covered the widest range of categories (15 in total) and consistently ranked as the least data-hungry developer. For example, Apple’s 13 Utilities apps collected an average of 6 data types, compared with 17 for Google’s Utilities apps.
To see a more detailed profile of each Big Tech company, please see the blog post: https://surfshark.com/research/study/big-tech-data-collection
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This entry was posted on August 20, 2026 at 7:58 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Surfshark. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.