Better Health for All

AppLovin's data-collection practices are under investigation by the SEC following a whistleblower complaint.

Allegations include violating platform partners' service agreements to push targeted advertising and force-feeding silent, backdoor app installations directly onto users' phones. Short sellers also allege the company steals data from Meta. These reports suggest a lack of transparency regarding data collection practices and potential undisclosed risks, leading to a score of -80 for risk transparency. The SEC probe and short seller reports directly relate to AppLovin's data collection, user privacy, and adherence to platform terms of service, indicating poor health data protection and inadequate consent protocols, scoring -90 for healthcare data responsibility. While AppLovin states it does not knowingly collect personal information from or serve advertisements to children , and provides a privacy policy explaining data use , the allegations of 'force-feeding silent, backdoor app installations' suggest a potential impact on vulnerable users. However, without specific evidence of the extent of vulnerable populations reached or direct health impacts, this KPI is not scored. The company's core products (ad tech, mobile games) are not directly health-related, and there is no evidence of direct health damage from them, nor are there specific mental health initiatives or addiction mitigation efforts evidenced.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

AppLovin's core business is providing software and services to app developers, not consumer financial services. Therefore, most KPIs related to lending, fees, and financial inclusion are not applicable and are omitted due to a lack of direct evidence within the scope of financial services. Regarding data accessibility, AppLovin is facing an ongoing SEC investigation and preliminary probes by multiple state attorneys general concerning its data collection and ad-targeting practices.

Allegations include using device fingerprinting to track users without consent, extracting proprietary IDs from platforms, and misleading investors about its methods. The company also discontinued its 'Array' app distribution tool after accusations it downloaded apps onto devices without explicit consent. These issues indicate significant limitations and lack of transparency regarding customer data portability and control. For fair lending compliance, AppLovin has faced multiple adverse regulatory findings and probes. The SEC is investigating the company's data collection and ad-targeting practices, and multiple state attorneys general have begun preliminary probes into consumer data privacy. These investigations and allegations, including claims of violating platform partners' service agreements and improperly tracking users, constitute significant regulatory scrutiny and findings related to unfair practices, even if not directly tied to lending.

Honest & Fair Business

AppLovin has a comprehensive whistleblower policy, amended October 30, 2025, which applies to all employees, officers, directors, and contractors.

It includes a multi-country hotline, explicitly prohibits retaliation, ensures confidentiality, and mandates that the Chief Administrative and Legal Officer reports significant accounting/auditing matters immediately to the Audit Committee and provides quarterly updates on investigations. The company has not reported any financial restatements, as indicated by unchecked boxes in a filing. AppLovin has filed a report and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which was attested by its registered public accounting firm. An ongoing SEC investigation into data collection practices, including allegations of violating service agreements and unauthorized data collection, represents a significant ESG controversy. AppLovin has a comprehensive anti-corruption policy, amended October 30, 2025, which prohibits facilitation payments, requires due diligence for third-party representatives, and includes annual acknowledgment requirements. The company obtained ISO/IEC27001 certification in 2024 and relies on third-party attribution for measuring return on advertising spend, but there is no broader evidence of independent verification of ethical claims.

Kind to Animals

The provided articles do not contain any specific, concrete data points or evidence regarding AppLovin Corporation's (APP.US) performance against any of the 'Kind to Animals' KPIs.

The articles discuss general industry trends, certifications, and market information related to animal welfare and testing, but none of this information is attributed to APP.US. Therefore, no KPIs can be scored based on the given evidence.

Planet-Friendly Business

AppLovin Corporation does not have publicly available data for any of the Planet-Friendly Business KPIs, including total greenhouse gas emissions, science-based targets, renewable energy usage, water consumption, waste diversion rates, or climate-related financial disclosures.

The provided articles explicitly state that no quantitative data is available for any of the relevant metrics, making it impossible to assess the company's performance against the rubric's criteria.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

The provided articles do not contain specific, quantifiable evidence for any of the KPIs related to 'Respect for Cultures & Communities' for AppLovin Corporation. While Article 0 lists AppLovin as a donor to Child Advocates of Silicon Valley in 2023.

this single donation does not provide sufficient detail to assess formal partnership agreements, community reinvestment, or other specific metrics outlined in the rubric. The company's business model as a technology platform for mobile app developers also suggests that many of the KPIs related to physical operations, land use, or direct engagement with indigenous populations may not be applicable, but no explicit data is provided to confirm this.

Safe & Smart Tech

AppLovin faces significant failures in AI ethics governance, leading to board accountability investigations and scrutiny from the SEC and DOJ, and its removal from the S&P 500.

The company is accused of misrepresenting its AI capabilities and using its AXON 2.0 platform as a 'smokescreen' for unethical practices. There are multiple allegations of unauthorized data use, including exploiting user permissions to force silent app installations, reverse-engineering data from platforms like Meta, and using unauthorized tracking methods such as device fingerprinting. These practices have led to SEC and DOJ probes, as well as securities class-action lawsuits. The company's stock dropped 32.3% in two weeks in early 2025 and 14% on October 6, 2025, following news of the SEC probe. AppLovin states it retains information for limited periods, typically up to two years, and does not collect sensitive personal information. It also states it complies with the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, UK Extension, and Swiss-U.S. DPF, and obtained ISO/IEC27001 certification in 2024. The company provides users with rights to know, access, delete, and opt-out of the sale or sharing of their personal information, exercisable through a Privacy Management Application or device settings. AppLovin conducts annual company-wide cybersecurity training, regular phishing simulations, and role-based training. It also has a bug bounty program and engages third parties for vulnerability scanning and threat monitoring. However, the company's privacy by design is questioned by allegations of exploiting app permissions to force silent installations.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

AppLovin has implemented several waste reduction initiatives, including minimizing printing, encouraging printer ink cartridge recycling, minimizing single-use items, largely eliminating single-use dishes and utensils, using recycled/compostable to-go containers, utilizing recycling, compost, and waste sorting bins, minimizing e-waste, and donating refurbished laptops.

The company minimizes e-waste and donates refurbished laptops, indicating active hazardous waste reduction. AppLovin has not reported any waste disposal violations or citations in its 2022 ESG report. However, the company does not provide specific data on waste audit frequency, and no facilities have zero-waste certification.