Google to remove Play Store apps that violate privacy policy
House to millions of apps is set to shrink. Google is reportedly purging its Android Play Store of apps which do not abide by its privacy policy. The company is reportedly sending out notifications to app developers warning them of limiting visibility of their apps or even a complete removal for violating Google’s User Data Policy. According to the policy, “malicious apps that abuse or misuse any network, device, or personal data are strictly prohibited.”
On its developer policy center, Google details the policy and explains that the app developer must be transparent about how the user data is handled through their app. For example, if an app uses information provided by a user, or about the users’ usage of the app or the device, then they are required to disclose the collection, use and sharing of the data in the description. Additionally, if an app handles personal or sensitive user data, for example in the case of fitness apps, then there are additional requirements listed in the policy.
In its letter to developers, as noted on The Next Web, the Play Store Team is asking developers to provide a valid privacy policy on the app’s Store Listing Page and within the app. If any developer wants to opt-out of this requirement then they can do so by removing the requests or permissions made by the app for sensitive user data. Deadline for complying with the said orders is March 15, 2017, following which, the app can either be removed or its visibility will be limited.
“There nothing really new here. The update to our privacy policy (in the Google Play Developer Program Policies) was actually made last August and is consistent with industry practices. Since then, we have been sending regular reminders to developers to comply with this change. This is part of our effort to improve policy awareness with developers and reduce any preventable disruption to their apps availability on Play,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement.
Other than offering apps for the world’s most popular OS, Google Play Store is also house to a trove of zombie or junk apps. In a recent security report by Cheetah Mobile, it was discovered that about 50 percent of Android users have been affected by malicious apps promoting malware. There unwanted apps force install on the devices and are difficult to remove. As part of the clean up drive, Google aims to take on the millions of non-compliant apps available across the Play Store which are in turn affecting user experience. With removal of such apps, the chances of discovery for legitimate apps will also witness a boost. ALSO READ: UIDAI shuts down 24 illegal apps, websites collecting Aadhaar information
To help make Play Store a house of legitimate, malware-free apps, Google has periodically announced crackdown on apps which stand in violation of its policies. In late last year, Google planned to tackle app ratings and reviews which were fake. The company announced that it was improving its detection system to identify and remove fake ratings and reviews for spam apps. Such illegitimate reviews and ratings were benefitting app developers who relied on paid reviews and ratings to boost their rankings on the Play Store.
Recently, illegal Play Store apps which were found to be misusing Aadhaar-related data of users have been shutdown on the directive of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The organization has reportedly shutdown 12 mobile apps available on the Google Play Store. These apps and websites were allegedly charging excessive fee for services which are otherwise free for public such as downloading of Aadhaar card or status of its generation, etc. By doing so, these services were illegally obtaining Aadhaar card number or enrolment details of the public, which is a punishable offence. ALSO READ: YouTube Go now available for download in India; here’s how it works