Policy announcement: April 10, 2025

You’ll have at least 30 days from April 10, 2025 to update your app to comply with the policy changes below. For more details, go to the Policy Deadlines page.

Updated policies

• We’re updating the News policy to include both news and magazine apps. Additionally, the current self-declaration will be expanded with new questions. All news and magazine apps will need to complete the updated self-declaration in Play Console.
• The Personal Loans policy will be updated to include line of credit apps.

Clarifications

Additionally, we’ve added clarifications to some of our existing policies. Because these changes aren’t new or updated, our enforcement standards and practices remain the same.

• We’re clarifying the allowed exceptions and examples of violations in the Manipulated Media policy.

• We're clarifying System level default contacts role handlers as eligible for default handler exemptions for contacts prioritization and management.

• We’ve linked to the definition of ‘sharing’ as defined in our Play Data Safety Section of Policy.

• We’re clarifying the difference between Personal Loans and Earned Wage Access loans in the Personal Loans policy.

• We’re clarifying a User Data violation example in order to align it with OS-level privacy enhancements that have been introduced to Android. Specifically, starting from April 10, 2025, Android ID is no longer regarded as a persistent device identifier.
• We’re clarifying our User Data policy to provide examples of best practices for complying with data protection laws in your applicable jurisdictions as well as additional information around the EU-U.S., UK, and Swiss Data Privacy Frameworks.

• We're clarifying our Help Center articles on SMS/Call Log Permissions and Spyware to provide clearer guidance on restrictions related to financial apps accessing users' SMS history in compliance with our policies.

• We’re clarifying the Enforcement Process policy with additional information regarding the closure of dormant accounts.

• Apps can now only access photos and videos for purposes directly related to app functionality as stated in our  Photo and Video Permissions policy. Apps that require these permissions may request an extension and submit a declaration form in Play Console on the app content page by May 28, 2025.
• Social and dating apps must now comply with the Child Safety Standards Policy, which requires self-certification on Play Console before publishing. Check out Tech Coalition’s best practices for Combating Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA) here.