Home
Apps
Apps News
Google Play May Soon Remove Millions of Apps Without Privacy Policies

Google Play May Soon Remove Millions of Apps Without Privacy Policies

By Ketan Pratap | Updated: 9 February 2017 20:12 IST

Highlights

Google sends notice to several developers to fix issue
The company has asked developers to fix issue by March 15
Google warns developers about administrative action

Google is reportedly sending notices to developers of apps handling personal or sensitive data but lacking a privacy policy. The company informs them it is considering limiting or removing these apps from Google Play if they do not meet the User Data policy. Google has asked developers to fix the issue with their apps by March 15 or has warned that administrative action will be taken to limit the visibility of the app.

The Next Web reports that a significant number of developers are receiving a warning about how their app lacks a valid privacy policy. Google's latest move could be a big blow for half-baked apps that have made their way to the Google Play and handle personal or sensitive data . According to Google's User Data policy, developers have to be transparent how they handle user data (information provided by a user, collected about a user, and collected about a user's use of the app or device). It further adds that the app is required to comply with additional restrictions or procedures if required by an applicable law.

Google describes the "Privacy Policy and Secure Transmission" in User Data policy, "If your app handles personal or sensitive user data (including personally identifiable information, financial and payment information, authentication information, phonebook or contact data, microphone and camera sensor data, and sensitive device data) then your app must: 1) Post a privacy policy in both the designated field in the Play Developer Console and from within the Play distributed app itself. 2) Handle the user data securely, including transmitting it using modern cryptography (for example, over HTTPS)."

As per the notice shared by The Next Web, Google is warning developers who do not adhere to the company's policy that their app's visibilty could be limited, or it could even be removed from Google Play. Developers will either need to link to a valid privacy policy, or stop requesting sensitive permissions or user data. Developers have until March 15 to make the changes.

The move to remove apps that do not follow the guidelines set by Google will surely boost confidence in Android users which at times struggle to find the right app due to presence of fake ones.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: Google, Google Apps, Android, Google Play

Ketan Pratap

Email Ketan

Ketan Pratap is the editor at Gadgets 360 - with over 12 years of experience covering the technology domain. With a breadth and depth of knowledge in the field, he's done extensive work across news, features, reviews, and opinion pieces. But what's truly inspiring about Ketan is how he spends his free time. He's often found gazing at snow-capped mountains from over 20,000 feet while sitting on the hood of his car, taking in the breathtaking beauty of nature. His passion for the great ...More