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My app just got removed with no prior warning

javierantonsblog.blogspot.com

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Re: My app just got removed with no prior warning

#11

Post by malwarebytess »

> 1) Unexpectedly pulling an app with no warning and then imposing a 7-day review period is not reasonable. OK, my app only has tens of thousands of downloads.

No, no. Don't apologize. Would you expect Google to remove twitter's app with no prior notice? How about a U.S. government app? Why should you expect different treatment from Google than Twitter et al.?

Google has to provide a consistent and responsive experience for any company who is using their rather monopolistic marketplace to distribute their app. That they don't in all cases should concern even regulators. They can greatly distort the market in undesirable, noncompetitive directions for the economy.

Re: My app just got removed with no prior warning

#13

Post by rkachowski »

jrochkind1 wrote: post #5

> App stores should review apps at set frequencies. Developers should know the expected date for their next review so that they can prepare for unexpected consequences that require direct action. I guarantee bad actors would remove unpermitted functionality right before the review, and put it back after. There's a reason even restaurant food safety inspectors don't tell the restaurant when they're coming. But on the…

> I guarantee bad actors would remove unpermitted functionality right before the review, and put it back after.

Outside of a dynamic feature flag setup, this would be trivial to detect as Google and Apple completely control the submission process.

Re: My app just got removed with no prior warning

#14

Post by gallego2007 »

Was the Privacy Policy linked on the Play Store listing description as well?

IIRC, there was a recent change in the last 12 months or so to require a link to the privacy policy on the listing.

You should be able to file an appeal and get it reinstated using this form:

https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ...

Re: My app just got removed with no prior warning

#15

Post by specialist »

Convert these private markets into open markets.

Tort, fair and impartial judiciary, right to sue, transparency and accountability, etc.

Reforming (reinventing) these private markets is notably absent from the current efforts to reign in Big Tech. A weird omission.

Re: My app just got removed with no prior warning

#16

Post by candiodari »

rkachowski wrote: post #13
jrochkind1 wrote: post #5

> App stores should review apps at set frequencies. Developers should know the expected date for their next review so that they can prepare for unexpected consequences that require direct action. I guarantee bad actors would remove unpermitted functionality right before the review, and put it back after. There's a reason even restaurant food safety inspectors don't tell the restaurant when they're coming. But on the…

> I guarantee bad actors would remove unpermitted functionality right before the review, and put it back after. Outside of a dynamic feature flag setup, this would be trivial to detect as Google and Apple completely control the submission process.

No it wouldn't. Have the bad functionality behind a DNS lookup. It fails, app behaves.

Developer can change flag and there's little Google/Apple/Amazon can do about it.

Re: My app just got removed with no prior warning

#17

Post by Wonnk13 »

Does anyone have advice on how to safely "decouple" your personal @gmail.com account from your Android and GCP developer account?

I'd like to delete my GCP and Android developer account, but I'm worried the process will inadvertently delete my personal gmail as well.

Shame on me for using it to login in to these types of accounts in the first place :(

Re: My app just got removed with no prior warning

#18

Post by lovelearning »

KMnO4 wrote: post #10

I don’t see this as too much an issue. Sure, you have a privacy policy accessible in your app, but A) Google doesn’t know that B) People in the Play store can’t read it before downloading. All Google is asking is that you put the privacy policy in the store page. Seems reasonable.

> My app correctly offered a privacy policy link in its Google Play listing

Re: My app just got removed with no prior warning

#19

Post by CyberShadow »

KMnO4 wrote: post #10

I don’t see this as too much an issue. Sure, you have a privacy policy accessible in your app, but A) Google doesn’t know that B) People in the Play store can’t read it before downloading. All Google is asking is that you put the privacy policy in the store page. Seems reasonable.

From the article:

> My app correctly offered a privacy policy link in its Google Play listing

I think that counts as being able to read it before downloading?

Re: My app just got removed with no prior warning

#20

Post by px43 »

Are we expected to sympathize with an app that's siphoning off sensitive user data from phones without informing the user? Seems shady.

Your main website says:

* Data is never kept online

* No ads, no affiliate marketers, and no creepy tracking

* No phone number is required; No need to share your phone book. Only need an email address (can be masked)

But your privacy policy says:

* For a better experience while using our Service, we may require you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information, including but not limited to your name and email address.

* We may employ third-party companies and individuals

* We want to inform our Service users that these third parties have access to your Personal Information.

Kind of ridiculous IMO that you can get away with doing that just by adding an additional link in your app.

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