Google has shared new details about its plans to introduce Privacy Labels to apps.
The technology giant announced plans to launch its own privacy labels earlier in the year, following Apple’s decision to launch them in 2020 to give consumers more control over the data they shared with third parties.
Google’s new labels will allow users on Android to understand what data apps are collecting on them.
Now, the search engine giant has shared new information on how the scheme will work, known as the Play Store Safety Section. Android’s vice president of security and privacy, Suzanne Frey said: “Today, we’re announcing additional details for the upcoming safety section in Google Play. At Google, we know that feeling safe online comes from using products that are secure by default, private by design, and give users control over their data. This new safety section will provide developers a simple way to showcase their app’s overall safety. Developers will be able to give users deeper insight into their privacy and security practices, as well as explain the data the app may collect and why — all before users install the app.
“Ultimately, all Google Play store apps will be required to share information in the safety section. We want to give developers plenty of time to adapt to these changes, so we’re sharing more information about the data type definitions, user journey, and policy requirements of this new feature.”
The company confirmed that, from October, developers will be able to declare information on data and privacy inside of the Google Play Console, and from the first quarter of 2022, the section will appear on Google Play. April 2022 is the deadline for developers to declare information, at which point every app should have a safety section.
Earlier in the year, Apple made it mandatory for applications to provide information on their Privacy Labels, adding that existing apps must update their app with Privacy Labels on their next release. Google has followed a similar stance as Apple, bowing to pressure from consumers, and has confirmed it may even reject apps from the Google Play Store should they fail to comply with the new regulations.
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