An upcoming change to Google Play is going to make it more difficult for Android users to learn what kinds of data apps will attempt to access once they've been installed.
Ars Technica reports(Opens in a new window) that Google will require Android developers to supply more information about how their apps collect, use, and manage user data starting on July 20. This developer-supplied information will appear in a "Data Safety" section of the app's page on Google Play.
Google says(Opens in a new window) the Data Safety section "helps users make more informed choices when deciding which apps to install." But earlier this week Esper senior technical editor Mishaal Rahman pointed out that Data Safety will replace the existing Permissions section on Google Play:
Tweet(Opens in a new window)
Google Play automatically generated the Permissions section based on information gleaned from the app itself. The new Data Safety section, meanwhile, consists entirely of the developer's characterization of the privacy implications associated with using their app.
Google explains:
You alone are responsible for making complete and accurate declarations in your app’s store listing on Google Play. Google Play reviews apps across all policy requirements; however we cannot make determinations on behalf of the developers of how they handle user data. Only you possess all the information required to complete the Data safety form. When Google becomes aware of a discrepancy between your app behavior and your declaration, we may take appropriate action, including enforcement action.
The company is effectively having Google Play trade objective information about the kinds of data a given app might attempt to access (Permissions) for subjective summaries of the app's data usage (Data Safety) rather than simply making both sections available to Android users.
The apps in question would still have to request access to certain data—that's the whole point of the permissions system—but Android users wouldn't be warned of those requests beforehand. Then it's up to them to figure out if a request matches the information in the Data Safety section.
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Rahman noted(Opens in a new window) that Android power users can still check for the Permissions section via third-party apps or by checking the App Manifest(Opens in a new window). As for everyone else, well, it seems they'll have to install the app to find out for sure what kind of data it's going to attempt to access.
Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
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"Android" - Google News
July 16, 2022 at 11:12PM
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Google Is Taking Android Devs at Their Word When It Comes to Data Usage - PCMag
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