Using Call Recording Apps On Android Smartphones Won't Be Possible From May 11: Details

Android smartphone users who are dependent on third-party call recording apps will not be able to use them after May 11.

New Delhi: Android smartphone users who are dependent on third-party call recording apps will not be able to use them after May 11, courtesy of a policy change by Google Play that will prevent third-party call recording apps to function. However, Android smartphone users who depend on the native call recording functionality of their smartphones will not be affected by the policy change. 

According to a post by a Reddit user named NLL-APPS, a new Google Play Store policy will come into effect from May 11, thus, removing the Accessibility API for call recording on Google Play Store and it has been also explained in a developer webinar. Google has been working to stop call recording on Android devices for some time. Earlier, with Android 10, Google removed the ability to record calls completely from devices, citing privacy and security reasons.

“If the app is the default dialer on the phone and also pre-loaded, accessibility capability is is not required to get access to the incoming audio stream, and hence, will not be in violation,” said the presenter in the developer webinar highlighting the Google Play policy updates.

Meanwhile, Google Play's new policy clearly states that "the Accessibility API is not designed and cannot be requested for remote call audio recording". They have also addressed this in their webinar video. The tech giant has also noted that the native call recording apps in smartphones will continue to work as usual without any issues and will not need any special permission to function properly.

Android smartphone makers such as Samsung, Xiaomi and Oppo continue to bring in-built call recording apps that will continue to function even after May 11. It is likely that Google is bringing this policy change to third-party call recording apps as call recording laws vary across different countries.