A protected and trusted Google Play expertise is our prime precedence. We leverage our SAFE (see beneath) rules to offer the framework to create that have for each customers and builders. Here is what these rules imply in observe:
- (S)afeguard our Customers. Assist them uncover high quality apps that they will belief.
- (A)dvocate for Developer Safety. Construct platform safeguards to allow builders to give attention to development.
- (F)oster Accountable Innovation. Thoughtfully unlock worth for all with out compromising on consumer security.
- (E)volve Platform Defenses. Keep forward of rising threats by evolving our insurance policies, instruments and expertise.
With these rules in thoughts, we’ve made current enhancements and launched new measures to proceed to maintain Google Play’s customers protected, even because the menace panorama continues to evolve. In 2023, we prevented 2.28 million policy-violating apps from being revealed on Google Play1 partly due to our funding in new and improved security measures, coverage updates, and superior machine studying and app overview processes. Now we have additionally strengthened our developer onboarding and overview processes, requiring extra identification data when builders first set up their Play accounts. Along with investments in our overview tooling and processes, we recognized unhealthy actors and fraud rings extra successfully and banned 333K unhealthy accounts from Play for violations like confirmed malware and repeated extreme coverage violations.
Moreover, virtually 200K app submissions had been rejected or remediated to make sure correct use of delicate permissions corresponding to background location or SMS entry. To assist safeguard consumer privateness at scale, we partnered with SDK suppliers to restrict delicate knowledge entry and sharing, enhancing the privateness posture for over 31 SDKs impacting 790K+ apps. We additionally considerably expanded the Google Play SDK Index, which now covers the SDKs utilized in virtually 6 million apps throughout the Android ecosystem. This beneficial useful resource helps builders make higher SDK decisions, boosts app high quality and minimizes integration dangers.
Defending the Android Ecosystem
Constructing on our success with the App Protection Alliance (ADA), we partnered with Microsoft and Meta as steering committee members within the newly restructured ADA below the Joint Growth Basis, a part of the Linux Basis household. The Alliance will help industry-wide adoption of app safety finest practices and pointers, in addition to countermeasures towards rising safety dangers.
Moreover, we introduced new Play Retailer transparency labeling to spotlight VPN apps which have accomplished an impartial safety overview by way of App Protection Alliance’s Cell App Safety Evaluation (MASA). When a consumer searches for VPN apps, they’ll now see a banner on the prime of Google Play that educates them in regards to the “Unbiased safety overview” badge within the Knowledge security part. This helps customers see at-a-glance {that a} developer has prioritized safety and privateness finest practices and is dedicated to consumer security.
To higher defend our clients who set up apps outdoors of the Play Retailer, we made Google Play Shield’s safety capabilities much more highly effective with real-time scanning on the code-level to fight novel malicious apps. Our safety protections and machine studying algorithms be taught from every app submitted to Google for overview and we take a look at hundreds of indicators and examine app habits. This new functionality has already detected over 5 million new, malicious off-Play apps, which helps defend Android customers worldwide.
Extra Stringent Developer Necessities and Pointers
Final yr we up to date Play insurance policies round Generative AI apps, disruptive notifications, and expanded privateness protections. We are also elevating the bar for brand spanking new private developer accounts by requiring new testing necessities earlier than builders could make their app accessible on Google Play. By testing their apps, getting suggestions and guaranteeing every part is prepared earlier than they launch, builders are capable of carry extra top quality content material to Play customers. With a purpose to improve belief and transparency, we’ve launched expanded developer verification necessities, together with D-U-N-S numbers for organizations and a brand new “Concerning the developer” part.
To provide customers extra management over their private knowledge, apps that allow account creation now want to offer an choice to provoke account and knowledge deletion from inside the app and on-line. This net requirement is very necessary so {that a} consumer can request account and knowledge deletion with out having to reinstall an app. To simplify the consumer expertise, we’ve additionally included this as a function inside the Knowledge security part of the Play Retailer.
With every iteration of the Android working system (together with its sturdy set of APIs), a myriad of enhancements are launched, aiming to raise the consumer expertise, bolster safety protocols, and optimize the general efficiency of the Android platform. To additional safeguard our clients, roughly 1.5 million purposes that don’t goal the newest APIs are not accessible within the Play Retailer to new customers who’ve up to date their gadgets to the most recent Android model.
Wanting Forward
Defending customers and builders on Google Play is paramount and ever-evolving. We’re launching new safety initiatives in 2024, together with eradicating apps from Play that aren’t clear about their privateness practices.
We additionally lately filed a lawsuit in federal courtroom towards two fraudsters who made a number of misrepresentations to add fraudulent funding and crypto change apps on Play to rip-off customers. This lawsuit is a essential step in holding these unhealthy actors accountable and sending a transparent message that we are going to aggressively pursue those that search to benefit from our customers.
We’re continuously engaged on new methods to guard your expertise on Google Play and throughout all the Android ecosystem, and we sit up for sharing extra.
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