Location and contacts.
Yes. Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc's developer declares location and contacts as data used to track you — data that can be combined with other companies' data for targeted ads or ad measurement, or shared with data brokers. On iPhone you can refuse: tap Ask App Not to Track, or switch off tracking requests for every app in Settings.
What “tracking” means on an iPhone
Apple defines tracking as linking data from this app with data from other companies' apps, websites or offline sources for targeted advertising or ad measurement, or sharing it with a data broker. It is narrower than “collecting data”: an app can collect a lot without tracking you, and a small app can track you with a single advertising SDK.
Since iOS 14.5, App Tracking Transparency requires every app to ask before it accesses your device's advertising identifier or otherwise tracks you. The App Store label is where the developer declares which of its data is used that way. Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc declares 2 data types, so expect the “Allow Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc to track your activity across other companies' apps and websites?” prompt.
The data Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc uses to track you
Location
Where your phone is, either precisely (street level) or approximately (city or area). Location history reveals home, work and routines. Precise location deserves the most scrutiny.
Contacts
The people in your address book or social graph. Uploading contacts shares other people's details, not just yours.
How to stop Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc from tracking you
- When Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc shows the tracking prompt, tap Ask App Not to Track.
- Already said yes? Open Settings › Privacy & Security › Tracking and switch off the toggle next to Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc.
- To refuse every app in one go, switch off Allow Apps to Request to Track on the same screen. Apps then cannot ask, and are treated as if you declined.
- For Apple's own ads in the App Store, News and Stocks, see Settings › Privacy & Security › Apple Advertising and turn off Personalised Ads.
- Inside Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc, look for an analytics or personalised-ads switch in its own settings; it covers data the iOS switch does not.
Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc's full privacy label
Is Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc safe? Every data type explained →
Do other private photo apps track you?
51% of the 85 private photo apps with a label in our snapshot declare tracking; 18% say they collect nothing at all. Nearby in the list:
| App | Tracks you? | Data types |
|---|---|---|
| OnyxCalc | No | 4 |
| Hide Photos Private Vault | No | 2 |
| Blurtic Blur Photo Background | Yes | 3 |
| Remo Duplicate Photos Remover | No | 0 |
| SanDisk ibi | No | 6 |
| Hide Photo Vault Secret Lock | Yes | 2 |
| Groupsy by Photobucket | Yes | 7 |
| Photo Album Cloud Vault | Yes | 3 |
Check your settings
Done. You have applied every control the label points to.
True or false?
- Right.Not quite.
True: it lists location and contacts under Data Used to Track You.
- Right.Not quite.
Labels are self-reported by developers. Apple can reject or remove apps that misrepresent practices, but it does not audit each label.
- Right.Not quite.
True: Location appears on its label.
- Right.Not quite.
It is collected and sent; the developer says it is de-identified rather than tied to your account or device.
FAQ
How do I stop Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc from tracking me?
Will Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc still work if I decline tracking?
What is the difference between tracking and data linked to me?
Does declining tracking stop all data collection?
Can apps track me without asking?
Is Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc safe? Full privacy report →How to lock Photo Vault & App Lock Safedoc on iPhone →Who tracks you? A–Z →All photo & video apps →