Google demands more transparency from Play Store app developers

Google has launched a new security section in the Play Store designed to show users details such as data collected by apps and how they are used.

The section will gradually be rolled out to users in the coming weeks, and app developers have until July 20 to add this information to their app list. 

According to Google, this section is an attempt to give users more information and some context about their privacy policies. It will list the data that each creator collects, whether they shared it, and whether their security practices have received appropriate third-party verification.

According to the site support page, tampering with the app’s data collection practices or not filling out this same section could mean that app updates have been blocked and may be removed from the Play Store. 

This new security measure follows the release of a similar feature in the Apple App Store in late 2020.

But Google’s support page notes that its security section isn’t necessarily a direct counterpart to Apple, so creators can’t expect to provide exactly the same information for both. 

Google says the move is part of its ongoing efforts to ensure that Play Store apps respect user privacy. 

- CyberBeat