Grab among most invasive apps is now at the centre of global attention, as a new study warns of rising data privacy risks for travellers in Southeast Asia. The findings highlight how Grab, a service millions depend on daily, is quietly positioned among the most invasive apps worldwide. This places it alongside social media giants in terms of sensitive information collection. For travellers in Southeast Asia, the study reveals the importance of understanding how such invasive apps handle data privacy at a time when digital security is more critical than ever.
Transitioning from convenience to caution, the global study makes it clear that Grab is not just a ride-hailing or food delivery tool. Instead, the app has joined the ranks of the most invasive apps, raising concerns about data privacy risks. Every time travellers in Southeast Asia book a car, order food, or make a payment, the app may track, link, and store personal information. This means that what seems like a simple booking can also become a data exchange that raises long-term risks.
The study, conducted on a global scale, warns not only of Grab but also of the wider ecosystem of invasive apps. It shows how data privacy risks for travellers extend beyond entertainment and social platforms. For those planning trips to Southeast Asia, Grab remains essential for mobility, but the warning is clear. Travellers must weigh the benefits against rising risks, as global privacy concerns grow stronger every season.
A new global study has raised red flags for travellers planning to use Grab, the ride-hailing and food delivery app relied on across South East Asia. According to the research, Grab now ranks as the third most invasive smartphone application in the world, just behind Instagram and Facebook. This revelation is particularly alarming for tourists who depend on Grab to book taxis, arrange food deliveries, and navigate new cities during their trips.
The findings highlight a growing tension in modern travel. Apps that make journeys easier are also the same platforms quietly collecting, tracking, and linking vast amounts of personal data. For international visitors, this means every booking, payment, and location pin dropped could be stored, analysed, and shared far beyond the phone in their hand.
The study, carried out by QR Code Generator, analysed over 5,000 Apple App Store apps across multiple categories. To ensure a balanced review, the research team created a privacy index measured out of 100, drawing on 46 key indicators. These included 35 different types of data, six distinct purposes for which data may be collected, and five variations of user relationships.
The index did not simply ask whether data was collected. It measured how data was used: whether it was merely gathered, whether it was linked directly to the user's profile, or whether it was both linked and tracked across activity. The most invasive category was "tracked and linked", showing apps that monitor behaviour and tie it directly to individuals.
This rigorous framework provided a detailed picture of which apps demand the most from their users' personal lives. It also revealed a surprising trend: many travel-related or lifestyle apps ranked much higher in invasiveness than entertainment platforms that people often assume to be more intrusive.
At the top of the global ranking sit Instagram and Facebook, each with an index score of 61.47 out of 100. Both collect an extraordinary 32 out of 35 available data types, with 25 directly linked to users and seven tracked across activity.
The scale of intrusion includes sensitive details such as physical address, device information, and unique user IDs. These practices stand in stark contrast with other entertainment apps such as YouTube and TikTok, which placed 27th and 76th respectively. Despite their massive global reach, these platforms collect significantly less sensitive data than Meta-owned Instagram and Facebook.
The findings confirm a long-standing suspicion: the most socially popular apps are also the hungriest for data, creating a digital trade-off between connection and privacy.
For international travellers, the most eye-opening finding is Grab's position in third place. The app scored 55.57 out of 100, placing it well above dozens of global entertainment and lifestyle brands.
Grab collects 27 different types of data. Eight are directly linked to users, while 15 are both linked and tracked across activity. Sensitive information such as payment details, financial data, precise location records, and purchase histories are all harvested and tied to user profiles.
For tourists in South East Asia, this poses serious concerns. Grab is often considered indispensable in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Travellers use it not only for airport transfers but also for daily commutes, food deliveries, and even cashless transactions. Yet every interaction may involve sharing financial and location data that becomes part of a much wider digital footprint.
In fourth place, three Meta-owned apps -- Threads, Meta Business Suite, and Messenger -- tied with scores of 54.53. Each collects 32 types of data, all linked to the user. While none are tracked, the depth of linkage ensures Meta retains an extensive record of user behaviour.
Retail apps also feature prominently in the top 10. Nordstrom Rack ranked seventh with a score of 53.62, while Nordstrom followed in eighth at 52.54. Both gather 22 types of data, most of which are linked and tracked. Pinterest, with 29 data types collected, took ninth position, and American Eagle's AE + Aerie rounded out the list in tenth place with a score of 50.01.
The inclusion of shopping apps demonstrates that privacy risks are not limited to social networks. Even seemingly simple retail experiences can expose users to significant levels of tracking and profiling.
The implications for travellers are clear. In South East Asia, Grab is often the only practical option for safe and reliable transportation in cities where taxis may be scarce or language barriers high. For tourists arriving in Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Manila, Grab often becomes a daily lifeline.
However, depending so heavily on a single app also concentrates risk. Payment details, location histories, and travel patterns may all be stored and tracked in ways many users are unaware of. This creates both privacy concerns and potential vulnerabilities if such data were ever misused or exposed.
For digital nomads, business travellers, and holidaymakers alike, the study is a reminder to weigh convenience against long-term privacy. While Grab may be essential on the ground, awareness and cautious use are equally vital.
The study also points to broader patterns affecting international travellers worldwide. Photo and video apps emerged as the most invasive category overall, scoring 38.54 on average. Social networking apps ranked second, while food-and-drink apps -- which include delivery platforms like Grab -- came third.
This means that apps central to daily travel routines -- from booking meals to sharing trip photos -- are among the most aggressive collectors of personal information. In an era where travel apps guide almost every step of the journey, from flights to hotels and taxis, this raises urgent questions about what users are trading in exchange for convenience.