Google is making some changes to its Developer Program Policy that prohibit most applications from checking the software installed on the device. The company has introduced a new rule to restrict the kinds of apps that want the QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES permission, which provides a complete list of apps on a smartphone running Android 11 or higher. This was reported by XDA Developers.
According to the updated policy, Google Play treats the list of installed applications as personal and confidential information, and therefore it should not be in the public domain. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Google will grant QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES permission to programs that require the entire list of applications to function. For example, antiviruses, file managers, browsers, and device search programs.
But even here it is not so simple. Developers of these platforms must justify why their applications need a list of software installed on Android. If the program does not meet the company’s requirements, the creators must remove the permission from its manifest. Failure to comply with these company requirements may result in the removal of the application from the Google Play Store.
The company’s new rules will make it more difficult for attackers to spy on a user’s device, and advertisers will not be able to serve targeted ads. It remains to be seen if this update will be effective, but Google has high hopes for the new policy. The rules come into force on May 5, 2021. That being said, it’s worth noting that from November 2021, all new apps and updates should target Android 11 and above, which strengthens compliance with the new policy.
This is not the first time the company has changed its privacy policy. In 2018, for example, an update put a restriction on access to call logs and SMS data. In 2019, Google announced that the number of Google Play apps receiving this information had dropped by 98%.
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