Google now makes app developers DISCLOSE their data collection intentions

Google Play Store will now have a section where developers will need to disclose how their app collects data and what data is takes. Here are all details.

Google Data Safety comes in to make app downloading process more secure than ever. (Reuters)

In a step to make the app downloading process more secure on Android phones, Google has now come up with Data Safety section on the Google Play Store. The aim of this section is to educate consumers on how an app collects, shares and secures users' data. The section will start showing up on Google Play from today and while all app may not be able to furnish the required data immediately, Google has a set a deadline of July 20 for developers to comply.

Google says that this section will need to be updated by app developers as and when then release new updates for their app. Hence, if an app developer updates one of their core functionality or alters the data handling practices, they will need to show the latest data handling practices in the Data safety section. This will be a great addition for those who are concerned about privacy and want to know how their data is collected and used by a certain app.

Google Data Safety section comes up on Play Store

“We heard from users and app developers that displaying the data an app collects, without additional context, is not enough. Users want to know for what purpose their data is being collected and whether the developer is sharing user data with third parties. In addition, users want to understand how app developers are securing user data after an app is downloaded,” says Google on why this feature was conceived.

This is all the data that developers will need to provide for a particular app

-Whether the developer is collecting data and for what purpose.

-Whether the developer is sharing data with third parties.

-The app's security practices, like encryption of data in transit and whether users can ask for data to be deleted.

- Whether a qualifying app has committed to following Google Play's Families Policy.

- Whether the developer has validated their security practices against a global security standard.

Note that this feature will be accessible inside the Google Play Store only. This is different from the Android Privacy Dashboard that is available inside your Android phone's settings. The Privacy Dashboard came with Android 12 and allows users to review data access by apps if they avail sensors such as the camera or microphone, or access location data.