Google To Block Stalkerware Apps On Play Store From Oct 1; Apps For Parents Monitoring Child Excluded

Sometime back reports had revealed that Google plans to take action against spyware and stalkerware and in its new policy for Play Store, a ban of such apps will come into effect from October 1.

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New Delhi: In a move to ban stalkerware apps, Google has updated its Play Store policies that will come into effect from October 1.  The apps that fall under the categories of Stalkerware, Misrepresentation and gambling will get a grace period of a minimum 15 days from September 16 to comply with the changes, the company said in a statement. Stalkerware apps are the apps used to track a user's movements and snoop on their calls and messages. Google stated that such apps that reveal personal information from the device without required consent while also not putting out a notification about their activities will be banned from Play Store. However, Google has exempted apps that are used by parents to track their children. "However, these apps cannot be used to track a person (a spouse, for example) without their knowledge or permission unless a persistent notification is displayed while the data is being transmitted". Non-stalkerware apps on the Play Store that monitor or track a user's behavior on a device must not present themselves as a platform for spying or secret surveillance. "Apps must not hide or cloak tracking behaviour or attempt to mislead users about such functionality and must present users with a persistent notification and unique icon that clearly identifies the app," the company stated in its updated regulations.