Reports state that 85% of consumers have deleted a phone app due to privacy concerns, with a further 82% opting out of sharing personal data on an app. There are over 7.2 billion smartphone users worldwide, and as anxieties around online privacy are now higher than ever, billions may be concerned about how much personal information their apps hold. But which apps track you the most and what are they looking for?
To help smartphone users navigate privacy concerns, AI prompt experts AIPRM have researched information on which apps hold the most personal data. Expert insight has also been provided from Christoph C. Cemper, founder of AIPRM, on how to find out how much personal data these apps have collected.
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The smartphone apps collecting your personal data for their own benefit
| Rank | App | Percentage of personal data collected |
| 1 | 86% | |
| =1 | 86% | |
| 3 | Klarna | 64% |
| 4 | Uber | 57% |
| =4 | Uber Eats | 57% |
Social media giant Meta takes the top two spots, with Facebook and Instagram being the apps which collect the most personal data for their own benefit, using 86% of user data to market their own products and show you relevant ads. A staggering 3.43 billion people used at least one of Meta’s products daily in Q1 of 2025.
Klarna comes third, collecting 64% of consumer data for marketing benefits. Last year, Sweden’s Administrative Court of Appeal fined Klarna over £570,000, for violating the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules. GDPR is a European Union law which aims to protect the personal data of individuals. It provides individuals with greater control over their data and ensures that organisations are held accountable for how they collect, use, and store personal information.
Uber and Uber Eats both collect 57% of personal data for their own marketing benefits. 156 million people used Uber in 2024, and about 95 million of those used Uber Eats. In 2024, Uber was hit with one of the largest GDPR fines ever issued by the Dutch Data Protection Authority at €290 million, for illegally transferring European taxi drivers’ personal data to the U.S.
The apps tracking the most data overall
| Rank | App | Percentage of personal data tracked |
| 1 | 62% | |
| 2 | 55% | |
| 3 | Uber Eats | 50% |
| 4 | Trainline | 43% |
| 5 | eBay | 40% |
Instagram tops the table for tracking the most personal data overall (62%), with its owner Facebook following closely behind, tracking 55%.
Uber Eats makes another appearance, as the popular food app tracks 50% of personal data.
Trainline is also in the top five, tracking over two-fifths (43%) of personal data. With over 96 million people using the website and app monthly, Trainline holds a mass of user data, and outlines how this is used in its privacy policy.
Global online marketplace eBay ranks fifth, tracking 40% of users’ personal data. The website has 134 million active buyers, and also hosts 18.3 million seller accounts. Back in 2014, eBay suffered a data breach which affected 145 million users, as hackers gained access to sensitive user information such as addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth. Events such as this highlight the importance of a strong and up to date security system when it comes to holding consumer data.
The apps sharing your data with third parties
Once again, Instagram and Facebook come out on top, as the apps share the highest amount of consumer data with third parties, 79% and 57% respectively.
LinkedIn and Uber Eats are third, sharing 50% of personal data with third parties. Last year, LinkedIn was hit with a €310 million fine from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), which found that the company’s processing of personal data for analysis and targeted advertising was violating several aspects of the General Data Protection Regulation. Additionally, the DPC found that LinkedIn’s information provided to users on data processing activities was not clear or comprehensive, meaning it also failed to comply with transparency regulations, violating articles 13 and 14 of the General Data Protection Regulation.
Travel app Trainline and popular online video-sharing app YouTube both share over two-fifths (43%) of personal data with third parties.
“There are inherent risks involved in having apps that collect and use our personal data,” says Christoph C. Cemper, founder of AIPRM. “Cyberattacks and hacks are becoming more widespread and sophisticated, as hackers are consistently advancing their methods. Rapid digitalization and AI growth are just some of the factors contributing to a more complex global cyber threat landscape. Consequently, these apps are perpetually vulnerable, making robust and up-to-date security protocols and encryption absolutely vital. Failure to maintain these safeguards could allow malicious actors to succeed in accessing vast amounts of user data, potentially exposing individuals to fraud or identity theft.”
