Ever wonder how some apps such as Facebook know about your app preferences? Well, now Android apps are restricted from seeing other installed apps on your phone. Google will only allow the apps that meet specific requirements to see which other apps are installed in a device.
According to Google Personal and Sensitive Information policy, the inventory of installed apps on a device is considered to be personal and sensitive data. This means that as per Google’s guidelines, this information cannot be sold nor shared for analytics or ad monetization purposes.
Google has been working hard to restrict and improve privacy on android devices. In its latest update to developer policy. The company stated only select apps will be allowed to use the “QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES” permission a.k.a. broad app visibility.
According to Google “apps must be targeting an API level 30 (Android 11) or more. And their proper functioning must be dictated by the awareness of other apps. In case an app can run with a more “targeted scoped package visibility declaration,” developers should stop using the “QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES” permission.
Android apps are restricted from seeing other installed apps
To be honest some apps do need to see other apps on your phone to work properly. Apps such as file managers, browsers, antivirus, and a few others that need broad app visibility to work properly. And they will be allowed to use it, but only if the developer fills the Declaration Form in the Play Console.
And if you are an android developer yourself then Google is giving a 30-day grace period. In which it is allowing them to adapt to the new policies. If developers do not comply, they risk having their app removed by May 5 2021 from the PlayStore.
Let see what new things we get to see in the current Android 11 and the upcoming android update policies. But for the time being Google has taken a step in the right direction at the right time.