Upper School Intersession 2025

App and website developers must consider a number of privacy, safety and security questions, in addition to building an engaging product experience. Are there any limits to the types of data I can collect in my app, or how I can use it? When do I need to ask permission, and how can I get it without creating friction that stops people from using my innovative product? How do I protect people who use my app from bots, hackers and other common online threats? An increasing number of laws in California, the US and around the globe require privacy and security by design - the idea that evaluating privacy and security risks and requirements, and designing solutions, must be a core part of the product development process.

We will discuss the basic privacy and security requirements and considerations when designing apps and websites and look at the design choices of popular apps and platforms -- including TikTok, Zoom, and Apple. We will then review several hypothetical app experiences and discuss the best choices for user privacy, safety and product experience.