Clutch Report: 96% of Users Are Concerned About How Apps Use Their Personal Data

As AI raises the stakes on app permissions, transparency is no longer optional.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New Clutch research finds that 96% of smartphone users are concerned about how apps use their personal data, with 78% saying they've become more cautious about granting permissions since the rise of AI.

Users Are Skeptical — and Taking Action

The data makes clear that passive permission-granting is over. Nearly three in four users (74%) have revoked app permissions because they believed their data was being misused, and 71% have deleted an app entirely. More than half (51%) are actively trying to limit the data they share, a practice increasingly known as data minimization.

AI Has Raised the Stakes

Since AI models perform better with more data, apps now have a built-in incentive to request as many permissions as possible. At the same time, AI has made that data more powerful than ever — capable of predicting routines, purchasing behavior, and future locations.

"Users aren't just worried about privacy in the abstract; they're connecting the dots between the permissions they grant and the targeted ads, data breaches, and surveillance they experience," said Hannah Hicklen, Analyst at Clutch. "Apps that treat data collection as a trust issue, not just a legal one, will be the ones users keep."

What the Data Signals for Businesses

Users aren't just changing behavior, they're watching. Sixty-five percent have granted permissions they weren't comfortable with just to access an app, but 39% already assume their data is being misused. Apps that are upfront about what they collect and why will retain users. Those that aren't will lose them.

The full report is available on Clutch.

About Clutch

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