Android app developers not following Google's directions could find their apps removed from the Play Store
According to a report published today, Google is about to remove a large number of apps from the Google Play Store. Certain developers around the world have received an email from Google claiming that their apps are violating the tech giant's User Data Policy concerning personal and sensitive information. When an app asks for, or receives personal or device information, the developer is supposed to provide a "valid privacy policy" to consumers.
Developers who received the email have until March 15th to provide a link to a valid privacy policy on their app's Store Listing page and within the app. Or, they can revise the app so that it doesn't include requests for sensitive permissions such as the camera, microphone, contacts, accounts and phone. Permission to receive user data will also have to come down. Those who fail to provide a link might find visibility to their app reduced, or have the app removed from the Play Store by Google.
Some Android developers welcomed the move, saying that will help Google remove junk apps from the Play Store. Assuming that a large number of developers simply allow Google to remove their apps, it will help Android users wade through the smaller number of apps available to find exactly what they are looking for.
"I think it’s fantastic, this will clear the Google Play store of so many junk and zombie apps that our games will find increased visibility on the store as the search terms will become much less cluttered. This will make it easier for people to be able to find our app’s like Hop Hop Ninja! with better keyword searches like ninja or Nerd Agency and find much more relevant results."-Jack Cooney, developer, Hip Hop Ninja!"
As of the end of last year, there were believed to be 2.6 million apps in the Google Play Store. It should be interesting to see what that figure is culled down to once this purge is completed.
source:
TNW
