Google to Remove Unvetted Apps that Access Call & Text Data

In the midst of public concerns over data security, tech companies have begun to turn their actions toward ensuring the safety of user data.

 

 

According to TechCrunch, Google is in the process of removing apps from Google Play that request permission to access call logs and SMS text message data but haven’t been manually reviewed by Google staff.

 

 

This initiative by Google is set to curb some of the recent data privacy issues they’ve had regarding the collection of app user’s sensitive calling and texting data.

 

 

Back in October, the tech giant announced that Android apps will no longer be allowed to use the legacy permissions for this collection ability. As a result, developers must now fill out a new permissions declaration and go through a review process by Google in order to continue requesting permission for user’s calling and text data.

 

 

Google’s director of product management for Google Play, Paul Bankhead writes, “Our new policy is designed to ensure that apps asking for these permissions need full and ongoing access to the sensitive data in order to accomplish the app’s primary use case, and that users will understand why this data would be required for the app to function.”

 

 

In response to this change, thousands of developers have already sent in new versions of their apps where they either submitted a new permissions declaration or removed the need to access call and texting permissions altogether.

 

 

Developers will have until March 9 to receive approval or remove the permissions from their app.

 

 

To learn more about mobile app development, design, and marketing, make sure to contact our New York City Appetizer Mobile team today!