Google plans to make a big change to Play Store and make it safer for Android users: All the details

Google Play Store

Thousands of apps on the Google Play Store are on the verge of elimination from next month after Google announced its latest spam update policy. The tech giant has updated its minimum quality requirements for Android apps and will remove not allow developers to publish such low-quality apps on Play Store from August 31. Further, it could remove such Android apps from the Play Store, as well.

This new policy is designed to eliminate apps with ‘limited functionality and content,’ specifically text and wallpaper-based apps, that offer no particular function. The policy report further adds “Apps that crash, do not have the basic degree of adequate utility as mobile apps, lack engaging content, or exhibit other behavior that is not consistent with a functional and engaging user experience are not allowed on Google Play."

The move particularly affects many popular apps with millions of downloads, which have been running in the Android ecosystem for the last few years. Developers have upto six weeks to ensure their apps comply with the new standards, and can further tweak their functionality.

According to Google Security Blog, around 2.28 million apps were blocked from operating in 2023 for violating policies and breaching data privacy policies set by the company. Moreover, around 200,000 app submissions were also rejected. Google has also said that it banned 333,000 ‘bad’ Google Play accounts last year because of suspicion of fraud and malware.

With these changes, users can expect a cleaner and more secure app environment in the Google Play Store, with less risk of data breach.