Google’s Play Store delivers apps to billions of people using android chrome OS devices, around the world. As this is available on most devices, apps are submitted in abundance and it might tar Google’s reputation if the apps are deceptive and malicious and uses users’ data for misuse or abuse. So there are policies that Google wants the developers to follow when submitting an app and thus gain recognition. Here are some of the policies of the Google Play Store:
- It should comply with the local laws and content policies and prohibits content with restrictions like illegal unapproved financial services, inappropriate content, illegal activities, and children endangering.
- Banning the apps that use other’s content to develop their apps, using users' data to misuse or abuse.
- Developers can use monetizing strategies like; subscriptions, in-app products, paid distributions, and model-based ads.
- Apps should provide a respectful user experience and should not contain malware that would harm the user or the device.
Though many policies protect it, there are apps that trouble users with some of their features. Google tries to solve the issues by implementing new policies now and then. Few problems Google Play Store will be working on are:
Intrusive ads
Every now and then, ads pop up on your screen with offers, videos, or audio. This happens when you are watching videos, using social media, or browsing the internet. Not all ads are bad, some are interesting too.
Intrusive ads may be really annoying as it pops on while you are using your phone or your computer. It would flash on the screen, open web pages, and play videos, and audio, in irrelevant time. These ads won’t close until you see them. These make the users upset and somewhat irritating, as it blocks the users continue what they were doing for a few seconds. These ads are a failure it fails to attract customers. Some types of intrusive ads are:
Pop-up ads
Most users resent these types of ads. This ad forces one to close the ad by clicking on the x. This frustrates and many leave the homepage due to this pop-up that appears when you open a webpage or social media app.
Mobile ads
Most people dislike these ads. As the mobile screen is small the ad fully covers and blocks the page. One such example is interesting ads; which display at a progressing point, mostly in games in between levels. Though they display in between activities what makes them intrusive is that they have full coverage.
Prestitial video ads
These are video ads that play when loading or in the middle of it. These ads are intrusive because it force the user into watching them if they want to continue watching what was playing. Example: video ads on YouTube that plays before a video that are non-skippable, or skippable after 5 seconds.
Impersonation
There are many copycat apps, that use well-known apps icon and names to promote and to make believe they are associated with that company, business, or artist. This app will lower the reputations of the apps, the companies, or the organizations the impersonators use when the promised service is not provided.
Many apps use government emblems and government organizations’ logos to get more crowds on their apps.
Health care apps
There are many misleading health care apps in the name of providing medical services, that deceive users. They deliver dangerous diet controls, unsupported medical advice, and false health treatment.
This might harm the users and their health and also these apps provide misconceptions about vaccines and conversion therapy.
Screen recording and screenshots
There are many apps that help showcase the talents of content creators through video, audio, or other skills. And these people have the risk of being copying as their content can be recorded or taken screenshots and post it on other apps. This activity might bring fame to the latter, while the other search for it.
VPN
We can hide our IP address, personal data, and browsing history using VPN, but also hackers and snoops use it to hide their identity and their online activities. So anyone from anywhere can collect all the data of users and it is difficult to locate them.
Exact alarm
Application Programming Interface (API) allows apps any two apps to interconnect and provide services. Using API, you can set an alarm or timers for apps. Though this helps one to figure out the time spent on each app, this lessens the battery charge.
Stalker-ware
There are many apps that are designed and developed for only children. Video players that play only children-related content, drawing and coloring apps, and activities for children are a few examples. Parents would wonder about the safety of their kids and the data collected. There are also pop-up ads that might open up windows and new pages on a click and get the user's data through it.
What’s the big news?
Google announces new Play Store policies that are developing and will come into effect in near future. These policies will solve the issues of brand impersonation, misinformation, intrusive ads, and VPN usage while providing better app experiences.
To make proper changes to each issue, developers will be provided with adequate time to make essential changes to the app. And will come into effect in different time periods.
These policies will provide user security and experience.
The policy changes are:
Better ad experiences
Ads popping in irrelevant time frustrates the users by blocking the screen and forcing them to watch them. Prohibiting any ads that do not close after 15 seconds from displaying. Ads that offer game rewards – opt-in ads, to watch can surpass the time limit.
Prohibition of interstitial ads that play in full screen in between game levels or starting an app.
This policy will come into effect by September 30th, 2022.
Brand impersonation
Suppressing any apps that use national emblems, government organization logos, well-recognized companies, businesses, tv shows, etc., without the approval of the said organization.
This policy will come into effect by August 31st, 2022.
Health misinformation
Apps that provide false health advice and unapproved treatments, which debates against medical consent will be banned. These apps would harm users by providing misinformation on vaccines and stimulating conversion therapy.
This policy will come into effect by August 31st, 2022.
Flag secure requirements
This policy is a cover for the developers, as this would forbid people from recording or taking a screenshot of the content provided. If a screenshot is taken, it would only show a black screen. This policy is already in effect on streaming apps and this policy is not effective on apps that allow screen reading tools.
This policy will come into effect by August 31st, 2022.
VPN
VPN is mostly used to track data and reroute users' traffic to earn money. This policy will repress all the VPNs that are used for this purpose, though core VPN apps won’t be affected.
This policy will come into effect by August 31st, 2022.
Exact alarm permission
In android phones, users can set timers and alarms on apps using API. This affects the battery as it uses more energy to provide this service. Google’s Play Store policy will improve the battery life by using exact alarm permission.
This policy will come into effect by July 31st, 2023.
Ads and stalkware
Policies will be implemented on ads that will display on apps targeting only children. If the ads are served on apps that target only children, it should only use SKD that have self-certified compliance with Google Play Policies.
This policy will come into effect by November 30th, 2022.
These policies will be implemented in the coming days and it is believed they would help the users with a more secure and as free experience.