Upcoming new policies
- We're offering a developer preview of app set ID for essential use cases such as analytics or fraud prevention. App set ID cannot be used for ads personalization or ads measurement.
- We’re adding new restrictions in our Families Policy Requirements on identifiers used in apps that target children. Developers need to comply by September 1, 2021 except for Ad ID changes. For Ad ID, developers have until April 1, 2022 to comply.
- We’re adding a new section in our Enforcement policy to close inactive or abandoned developer accounts after 1 year of dormancy and additional factors.
- We're clarifying the Device and Network Abuse policy to prohibit apps or SDKs with interpreted languages (for example, JavaScript) loaded at run time from violating any Google Play policies.
- We’re adding a new Permissions policy to provide requirements on use of the Accessibility API and the IsAccessibilityTool.
- We’re updating our User Data policy to prohibit linking persistent device identifiers to personal and sensitive user data or resettable device identifiers unless for pre-approved use cases.
- We’re adding a new Data Safety section to the User Data policy where developers must provide accurate information related to personal or sensitive user data their apps collect, use, or share. All apps must also post a privacy policy in the Google Play Console and within the app itself.
Policy updates
- We’re updating the Inappropriate Content policy to institute new restrictions on sexual content, specifically prohibiting compensated sexual relationships (i.e., sugar dating).
- We’re updating the Financial Services policy to clarify the definition of the total cost of the loan and require all personal loan apps be properly tagged under the Finance category. We are also adding new requirements for personal loan apps in India and Indonesia.
- We’re updating our Store Listing and Promotion policy to prohibit spam text and graphics in app titles, icons, and developer names.
- We’re updating our Ads policy to indicate changes in the usage of Android advertising ID. When a user deletes the Android advertising ID on a newer device, the advertising identifier will be removed and replaced with a string of zeros.
New examples and clarifications
Additionally, we’ve added new examples and clarifications to some of our policies. Please note that these aren’t new policies and we aren’t changing our enforcement standards and practices as a result of these updates.
- We’re updating our App Promotion policy with additional examples of prohibited ads/promotional tactics for encouraging app downloads.
- We’re clarifying and consolidating guidance on providing required app information, such as login credentials for apps with login walls, to us through Play Console.
- We’re adding a link to an updated help center article which will provide further policy clarifications for news apps.