Google is planning one soon new policy for Android apps. It states that apps that allow you to create accounts must also offer an easy way to delete the account and the data associated with it.
According to Google, this regulation should come into force at the beginning of next year. Google is thus following the lead of Apple, which introduced a similar policy for apps in the App Store on June 30, 2022.
Deletion must be enabled in apps and online
Developers have until December 7th to answer questions about the data deletion of their apps in the data safety form. These responses appear in the data safety section of the Google Play Store and help learn about app data collection by providing labels.
Google announced that with this new policy, the company will adjust the data safety section of the Play Store to better reflect data controls.
Early next year you will be called on Google Play Badges
for data erasure on apps that have already taken the necessary steps.
Google goes one step further than Apple and calls on the developers to enable account and data deletion in the app and online, for example via a web browser. This means you don’t have to reinstall an app just to be able to delete the data it contains. This regulation does not yet exist at Apple.
If a developer needs to retain certain data for legitimate reasons, such as security or fraud prevention, this must be disclosed in the app.
Developers who need more time to implement the new rule can apply for an extension until 31. May 2024 apply for. However, this must be requested explicitly via the Google Play Console.
Will you make use of the new regulation and delete your data and accounts for unused apps? Feel free to write us in the comments why this is important to you or why not.
