Google is stepping its fight against unwanted and harmful applications on Android up and will soon alert users on apps and websites leading to apps that collect personal data without their consent.
Produced by Google Safe Browsing, the alerts will start popping up on Android devices in a couple of months, as part of expanded enforcement of Google’s Unwanted Software Policy, the Internet giant announced.
The expanded enforcement also covers applications handling personal user data, such as phone numbers or email, or device data, all of which will be required to inform users on their activities and “to provide their own privacy policy in the app.”
What’s more, Google is now requesting applications that collect and transmit personal data unrelated to the functionality of the app to “prominently highlight how the user data will be used and have the user provide affirmative consent for such use,” prior to performing the collection and transmission operations.
“These data collection requirements apply to all functions of the app. For example, during analytics and crash reporting, the list of installed packages unrelated to the app may not be transmitted from the device without prominent disclosure and affirmative consent,” Paul Stanton, Safe Browsing Team, explains in a blog post.
The Internet search provider is enforcing the new requirements to applications in both Google Play and non-Google Play app markets. The company also published guidelines for how Google Play apps should handle user data and provide disclosure.
The warnings might start appearing in late January 2018 on user devices via Google Play Protect or on webpages that lead to these apps.
Webmasters should refer to the Search Console for guidance on remediation and resolution of the warnings, while developers should refer to guidance in the Unwanted Software Help Center. Also, application builders can request app reviews.