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Google Clamps Down On Spam, Intrusive Ads In Apps

Posted by Soulskill on from the their-way-or-the-highway dept.

An anonymous reader tips news that Google has sent out a letter to app developers explaining policy changes for any new apps published on the Google Play store. In-app purchases must now use Google Play's payment system unless it's for goods or services used outside the app itself. They've added language to dissuade developers from making their apps look like other apps, or like they come from other developers. But more significantly, Google has explained in detail what qualifies as spam: repetitive content, misleading product descriptions, gaming the rating system, affiliate traffic apps, or apps that send communications without user consent. Also, advertisements within apps must now follow the same rules as the app itself, and they can't be intrusive: Ads can't install things like shortcuts or icons without consent, they must notify the user of settings changes, they can't simulate notifications, and they can't request personal information to grant full app function.

4 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Don't look now... by amRadioHed · · Score: 5, Informative

    I must have missed the part about Google making it more difficult for people to install apps from 3rd party sources. Maybe you could point me to where you saw that.

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    We hope your rules and wisdom choke you / Now we are one in everlasting peace
  2. Re:Don't look now... by Joehonkie · · Score: 5, Funny

    Damn, if only there was some way that Android would let me install my own apps from anywhere!

  3. Another good idea for Android by DickBreath · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I noticed in Jelly Bean that a user can find out what app put spam in the notification bar. The user can then revoke the app's ability to ever put any more notifications into the notification bar.

    Let's take that further. In Settings, Manage Applications, how about letting me manage the actual permissions that an app gets?

    So even if a Flashlight app declares in the manifest both Internet Access and Abuse My Personal Contacts permissions, I can simply deny the app any subset of those permissions. This would go a very long way toward eliminating the worst abuses we are seeing. After all, why does a Flashlight app need the Abuse My Personal Contacts permission?

    --

    I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
  4. Re:Don't look now... by BronsCon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Damn, if only there was some way that internet comments could express sarcasm.

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    APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.