In May 2021, Google announced it will launch a new data safety section on its play store to benefit customers. And now, the company has released a statement that it will roll out its new section to all its users by July 20th this year.
To those who do not know what the Data Safety Section will include, here’s a summary:
- The new data safety section is dedicated to users and will make it mandatory for developers to provide all the app functioning information such as the type of data they collect, what will it share with other parties, and what they will offer in their app regards to data security.
- Going deep into the details, the Alphabet Inc’s subsidiary will make it mandatory for developers to stay transparent with their users regarding overall data collection
- The app developer will also be required to follow Google Play’s Family Policy to protect children while accessing content from the play store.
- After July 2022, all app developers need to follow the Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) while developing the security functions in their applications.
- Precisely speaking, the section will provide users with an insight into how apps are collecting, sharing, and securing user data. And it will help the web search giant to make Android OS a safe mobile functioning ecosystem.
Currently, the Data Safety Section will only apply to Android 10 and above operating systems and within a few weeks of its release, i.e. by August 2022, it will be rolled out to all smartphones working on Android 8 and above Oses.
Google also plans to impose strict restrictions on apps seeking permission to access sensitive info, such as access to Bluetooth, contacts, camera, microphone, and location, along with the gallery option that is useful to store images and video files.
