Complete a Data Use Checkup
Updated: Sep 18, 2024
Data Use Checkup (DUC) is a tool in the Developer Dashboard that helps protects the data and privacy of our users. It requires an admin from your organization to affirm that your API access to certain Platform SDK features (
Table 1) complies with the
Developer Data Use Policy (DDUP).
When you want to use platform features in your app, use the DUC tool in the Developer Dashboard to:
- Select the features you need
- Document why you want access to each feature and how it enhances the user’s experience
- Document how you plan to use the user data gleaned from each feature
- Have Meta review your privacy policy for compliance
- Affirm that you understand and follow the DDUP
The Meta app review team reviews your DUC to ensure your app complies with all our requirements. If your DUC passes, your app will have access to the user data you requested. If it fails, the Meta app review team will provide feedback so that you can correct or improve the way you protect the data and privacy of our users. Then you can try to pass the DUC review again.
Data Use Checkup (DUC) differs from Data Protection Assessment (DPA)
Data Use Checkup is how developers request access to the features they need to operate their app and certify their general compliance with the Developer Data Use Policy. Data Protection Assessment evaluates whether developers comply with Meta's policies covering prohibited uses of data, data deletion, data sharing with third parties, and data security.Need help submitting a DUC? Get the clarity you need fast with our new Trusted Developer Essentials video course featuring tips and resources from Meta experts and Data Protocol:
Submitting a Data Use CheckupAn admin from your organization can submit a DUC as long as another DUC for that app is not already in review. If your DUC is currently in review, you must wait until the DUC is either approved or rejected before submitting more changes.
During initial app development, complete and submit DUCs to obtain provisional access to the platform features you request. Your app is granted automatic access to the features until you are ready to submit the app for review.
Any time you want API access to a new platform feature or you change the usage of a feature you already have access to, revise and resubmit a DUC to accurately explain the change or addition.
Before you submit your app for review, revise and resubmit your DUC to ensure it accurately and fully explains how your app uses its API access to platform features. Note that after you submit an app for review, any provisional access to platform features is revoked and the app won’t regain access to features until after a favorable DUC evaluation. For more information, see
How to Develop Apps While Waiting for DUC Approvals.
- At yearly intervals, resubmit your DUC to recertify your app’s continued compliance with Meta policies. If an app isn’t recertified yearly, it is removed from the Meta Horizon Store or Link PC-VR Store and loses access to platform features.
Note: Yearly DUC recertification is an additional submission outside of requests to update or change your current approved features.
For example, if your approved application adds the In-App Purchases feature and it has been less than one year since your last certification, this is considered a new DUC submission to add this new platform feature.
Table 1. Platform features that require a DUC
Apps with... | Need a DUC for these Platform features... |
---|
Achievements | |
Add-ons | |
Avatars | |
Blocked Users | |
Challenges | |
Cloud storage | |
Content sharing and live-streaming | |
Custom items | |
Destinations, rich presence, app deep linking | |
Displaying followers to invite | |
Events | |
In-App content | |
Leaderboards (followers) | |
Leaderboards (global) | |
Matchmaking | |
Multiplayer with Photon or Playfab | |
Parties and party chat | |
Peer-to-peer networking | |
Rooms | |
Subscriptions | |
User age group | |
Users who invite others | |
Viewing usernames | |
Voice Chat (VoIP) | |
A DUC may only be submitted by someone with an admin role in your organization.
- On the Developer Dashboard, go to the app’s card and then select Data Use Checkup.
- Based on the needs of your app, select Add next to each platform feature your app needs to access.
For each feature you add:
From the Usage list, select all the ways in which your app uses the requested feature.
In the Description box, describe how your app uses the feature. Be as specific as possible. Select Choose files on your device to upload any screenshots that demonstrate this usage. For example, you can test your features using test users to demonstrate the usage. Remember:
- User data must be used to run, support, and maintain a feature of your app to provide the experience requested by the user from whom the user data was collected.
- User data can only be used to conduct analytics if the data has been aggregated, and/or anonymized.
- User data can be shared only when you have the express written consent of the user.
Select the checkbox to certify your use of any data from the specific feature will comply with relevant policies.
Select Add to Request.
After adding all features your app needs, go to the bottom of the page to submit the request.
If this is the app’s first DUC, select Submit Requests (n).
If modifying an existing DUC, select Submit Recertification.
The content of your privacy policy is reviewed as part of your DUC submission. If you need to update your privacy policy URL, click the App Submission link to go to the app submissions page and update the URL.
Select the checkbox to certify that you are overall complying with Developer Data Use Policy.
- Select Submit for Review.
How to develop apps while waiting for DUC approvals