Google Play and Android recently announced several new policy updates and technical changes. Review the following recommendations to ensure your app stays up to date and in compliance.
Keep your Google Mobile Ads (GMA) SDK up to date
Apps updating their target to Android 13 will need to declare a Google Play services normal permission in the Android manifest file in order to use the advertising ID. For apps that do not declare this permission and target Android 13, the advertising ID will automatically be removed and replaced with a string of zeros.
You can update your app to GMA SDK 20.4.0+ or IMA SDK 3.25.1+, which will automatically have the permission declared. If you’re using GMA SDK 20.4.0+ or IMA SDK 3.25.1+, , no further action is required to continue using the advertising ID.
To learn more about the new permission, including how to disable it, refer to the Play Console Help Center.
About SDK instance ID
With the latest versions of the GMA and IMA SDKs, a rotating SDK instance ID is automatically generated for each app to ensure effective delivery, display, and integrity of ads. SDK Instance ID is unique for your apps and helps maximize your apps' ad performance.
About publisher first-party ID, formerly known as same app key
Version 21.4.0 of the GMA SDK introduced publisher first-party ID (formerly known as same app key), an encrypted identifier assigned to a unique user within your apps. Publisher first-party ID helps you deliver more relevant and personalized ads by using data collected from your apps. Publisher first-party ID cannot be used to link user activity from your apps to third-party apps.
Publisher first-party ID is enabled by default, but you can always disable it in your SDK or in your Ad Manager account.
Your app users are able to opt-out of ads personalization based on publisher first-party ID through in-ad controls. Ads personalization using publisher first-party ID respects existing privacy settings, including NPA, RDP, and TFCD/TFUA.
Provide information for Google Play's Data safety section
In May 2021, Google Play announced the new Data safety section, a developer-provided disclosure of apps' user data collection, sharing, and security practices.
You’ll soon be required to tell Google Play about your apps' privacy and security practices by completing a form in Play Console. Later, this information will be shown on your store listing to help Google Play users understand how you collect and share user data before they download your app.
Learn more about Google Play’s Data safety section and how to prepare for Google Play's data disclosure requirements.
Review updates to the Google Play Families policy
Google Play announced updates to the Families Policy Requirements. If one of the target audiences for your app is children, your app must not transmit certain identifiers (including the advertising ID) for children or users of unknown age.
If your app has a target audience that includes children, we recommend updating to:
- Android 20.6.0 GMA SDK or later
- iOS GMA SDK 7.67.0 or later
- IMA SDK 3.25.1 or later
- Programmatic Access Libraries (PAL) SDK 18.0.0 or later
These SDK updates ensure that the advertising ID is not transmitted when an ad request is tagged for child-directed treatment through tagForChildDirected (TFCD) or tagForUnderAgeOfConsent (TFUA).
