April 26, 2022 – Google has updated its Play Store policies to ban third-party call recording applications from May 11, 2022, according to international reports.
Google changed its policy to fix a loophole that allowed Play Store apps to record calls through the Accessibility API. Google states that “the Accessibility API is not designed and cannot be requested for remote call audio recording.”
The Accessibility API is utilised by Android apps that are designed to help users with accessibility issues but a number of developers were found to be tracking users through this service.
“Only services that are designed to help people with disabilities access their device or otherwise overcome challenges stemming from their disabilities are eligible to declare that they are accessibility tools,” a Google spokesperson told The Verge. “It should be obvious when reading the Google Play Store description of an accessibility tool who those users are and how the app helps them meet the challenges they face.”
According to the new guidelines, the use of Accessibility API must be documented in the Google Play listing. People who are using a smartphone running on Android 10 or newer versions of Google’s operating system will not be able to support third-party apps. The decision has been taken to make Android “more secure”.
However, the policy change will not impact the built-in call recording features on Android phones. Additionally, first-party dialler apps and Google Dialer pre-installed on handsets will allow call recording as well, albeit in specific regions.
Latest reports suggest that popular app Truecaller will also stop offering its call recording service from May 11 as it required users to enable recording through the Google Accessibility API.
