Applications in Google Play Store have legal obligations and responsibilities to its users. Tools such as privacy policy text generator may provide an overview of these responsibilities. Moreover, we’ve also outlined some of the responsibilities you should include in your terms and obligations, read through these points here.
However, Google has outlined different important points for app developers in their platform, which we’ll be providing an overview in the following sections.
Restricted Content
App developers are legally obligated to comply with local and international laws when it comes to restricted content. Specifically, the following must are essential parts of their responsibilities:
● The applications which sexualize minors will be immediately removed from the platform and contain adult content that appeals to children.
● Applications that include or resemble inappropriate content, financially deceptive apps, and gambling apps are also prohibited in the platform.
● Illegal activities, including facilitating the selling or purchasing of banned drugs, are also not allowed in the platform.
Complete App Information
The developers and institutions who wish to add their applications in Google Play Store are also obligated to provide a privacy policy in their listing. This ensures transparency and accountability about the device data and user data.
The privacy policy should also include an in-app disclosure statement that illustrates what type of data the app collects, what data they share, and who they share the users.
Applications requiring access to sensitive user data must include the privacy policy in-app and linked on the developers’ website with an active URL. The same goes for applications designed for a family program regardless if the app access or not sensitive data.
Payments
Payments for applications and in-app purchases are allowed. However, there are restrictions and obligations in order for any type of payment that can be added to your pap, and below are some of the requirements.
Applications that require or offer in-store payments and purchases, the developer must include the following:
● In-store purchases must use Google Play Payment for purchases.
● In-app purchases must also use Google Play Payment as a payment method.
● Google Play In-app Billing must be used as the primary payment method for applications that offer products within another category of the app downloaded from Google Play. The following are exceptions:
● Payment for physical products; and
● Payment for digital content which can be consumed outside the app.
● The in-app currencies will only be used in the app from which the currencies have been purchased.
For subscription payments, the developers are obligated to avoid any type of misleading content for the users. Clear and concise communication and promotions must be presented in the app, which includes the following:
● Transparency of the offer;
● Explicit terms, cost, and billing cycle;
● The app where the subscription is required; and
● No additional action must be necessary to review the information.
Introductory offers and free trials by the app must be clear, complete, and accurate. The terms of the offer, duration, price, and description of the service must also be presented. All developers must explicitly state the date on when the user will convert to a paid subscription, the cost, and when the user can cancel. Developers may look for general terms and conditions sample to identify what should be included in the statement.
Advertisements
As developers, you are required to declare whether the application contains ads, regardless of the type of advertisement it contains. The label must be visible to all Play Store users.
The ads must not be misleading, deceptive, or disruptive. Location data ads must be subjected to Personal and Sensitive Information policy and must adhere to the following:
● Permission to use or collect location data in the app must be visible and apparent to the user.
● The location permission must also be used only to implement current features or services on the application.
The developer is responsible for presenting ads in their apps in Google Play Store. However, Google will verify these from time to time, and incorrect or mislabelling can be considered as deceptive action.
Privacy, Security, and Deception
Developers must be transparent on how to handle and secure the users’ data and information when they provide or as you collect these data. Disclosure on data handling must be explicit. The disclosure can also come from a reliable online disclaimer generator.
The persona and sensitive information data include payment information, financial details, authentication data, contacts, location, and camera, mic, and other data collected by the developer who are deemed sensitive. In compiling these data, developers are legally obligated to :
● Limit the use, collection, and access to the sensitive data of the user;
● The privacy policy must be presented and designed within the app itself;
● Modern cryptography must be used when collecting, handling, and requesting permission to access data; and
● Developers should explicitly state that the personal and sensitive data of the users will not be accessed or sold.
Listing and Promotion of Applications
Developers have to follow an algorithm when it comes to promoting their applications. Promotion is important for applications to get more downloads and to boost the application in the leaderboards. However, you can’t get that promotion and visibility unless the developers don’t provide proper ways of promoting their product.
To artificially boost the promotion of the app, avoid using overbearing spammy store listings and low-quality promotion. This means that visibility in the app store is directly correlated to the quality of promotion put into the product.
We condemn the use of ads or promotions that could be deceptive or harmful to the users. This is especially true in cases wherein the developers directly or indirectly benefit from said promotion. Developers are legally obligated and are urged to adhere to the following when keeping in mind the promotion and listing of their application:
● Sending unsolicited and unwanted app promotions through SMS. This includes chain messages, spam, messaging links, and persistent and constant bombardment of unwanted links to the app.
● Tactics or methods of promotion that include downloading the app on the user’s phone without their knowledge, redirecting them from a webpage to the app store without prior notice or warning, or using other apps of the same developer to redirect users to other applications.
● The use of ads that are deceptive and are highly exaggerated in comparison to the content seen on the game will cause your app to drop down in the listings and become less visible. Ads must be an accurate representation of what the app is and what you’d expect to see on the app.
● Using ads with deceptive markers or images that could bait people into being sent to the app store. This includes false close buttons on the ad and the use of a survey-esque layout for the ad. Spamming these ads on certain websites to send people to the app store page more often is also a violation.
Developers and companies are obligated to promote their apps healthily. This means that promotion must be well thought of and unobtrusive. This will not only ensure that the app’s visibility is boosted but also improve reviews and user ratings on both the app and the developer.
As such, it is your responsibility as the developer to make sure that any affiliates don’t break the previous points. You will be held liable for any violations that are done by your affiliates and ad networks regardless of whether the promotion was agreed upon or not.
Do not partake in any promotion methods that violate the agreements. Comply with the terms and it’ll prove to be beneficial for the developer to boost the listing and overall promotion of your application.
These terms for promotion and listing is to ensure that the quality of the applications on the app store are high and meets the satisfaction of all users.
