July 25, 2022 – Google is restoring the app permissions list on Play Store less than a month after it removed the permissions display for “Data Safety” labels. The company has, however, not specified exactly when the section will be back on Google Play Store.
“Privacy and transparency are core values in the Android community,” reads Google’s statement. “We heard your feedback that you find the app permissions section in Google Play useful, and we’ve decided to reinstate it. The app permissions section will be back shortly.”
Earlier this year, Google Play Store launched the new Data Safety section for developers to disclose the information collected by their apps. The Data Safety labels require Android apps in the Play Store to list what data is being stored and for what purposes, allowing users to “see whether the app needs this data to function or if this data collection is optional”.
“You [developers] alone are responsible for making complete and accurate declarations in your app’s store listing on Google Play,” said Google about its Data Safety labels. “Google Play reviews apps across all policy requirements; however, we cannot make determinations on behalf of the developers of how they handle user data. Only you possess all the information required to complete the Data safety form.”
Developers also have to identify if the collected data is shared with third parties for their app’s security practices, etc. Google warned of “enforcement action” against developers in case of a discrepancy between the behavior of their app and their declaration.
The permissions section was reported to be removed on July 13 from the install page while Google was rolling out the Data Safety labels across apps on its Play Store. The section allowed users to see what kind of data access an application had on their device. The decision to hide the list was not appreciated by users and raised fear that it might lead to data breaches and limited control, according to reports.
“The Data safety section provides users with a simplified view of how an app collects, shares, and secures user data, but we also want to make app permissions information easily viewable for users to understand an app’s ability to access specific restricted data and actions too,” stated Google. “We will continue to take in feedback and work closely with the developer community to prioritize data privacy and transparency for users.”
After the new change, both Data Safety and permissions list for an app will appear on the Play Store. This means that users will be able to see both computer-generated records of information an app requests as well as the records written by the developers.
