In October, Google adopted new, stricter, call log and SMS policies, and granted apps developers 90 days to bring their applications into compliance with the new regulations. Now, that period is coming to an end, so Google will eliminate all the Play Store apps that don’t comply with the new call log and SMS policies.
According to Google, the Internet giant decided to adopt stricter policies regarding call log and SMS permissions because some apps abused the function. In short, Google wants to protect users from potentially malicious apps and private data leaks.
“As previously announced and directly communicated to developers via email, we’ll be removing apps from the Google Play Store that ask for SMS or Call Log permission and have not submitted a Permissions Declaration Form. If you have not submitted a permissions declaration form and your app is removed, see below for next steps,” said Paul Bankhead, Director, Product Management at Google Play Store on Android Developers Blog.
Google Will Eliminate Play Store Apps That Don’t Comply With The New Call Log and SMS Policies
“Our new policy is designed to ensure that apps asking for these permissions [call log and SMS] need full and ongoing access to the sensitive data in order to accomplish the app’s primary use case and that users will understand why this data would be required for the app to function,” Paul Bankhead added.
Paul Bankhead also explained what Google would consider when reviewing a submission:
- The likelihood that an average user would understand why this type of app needs full access to the data.
- User benefit of the feature.
- Importance of the permission relative to the core functionality of the app.
- Risks presented by all apps with this use case having access to this sensitive data.
- Availability of more narrow alternatives for enabling the feature.
According to Google, tens of thousands of devs have already resubmitted their apps to comply with the new call log and SMS policies. Those applications which do not meet the requirements, however, will be deleted from the Google Play Store.
