One of my Apps has been removed because not compliant with the new Android Advertising ID policy. This App had a simple AdMob/Google AdSense banner.
I would like to know how to check if my other Apps (using AdMob/Google AdSense) are compliant with the Android Advertising ID policy. How can I do that?
Thanks
Related
I have received an warning from Google Play:
Reason for warning: Violation of Usage of Android Advertising ID
policy and section 4.8 of the Developer Distribution Agreement
I have been checking and app should be sending the Android Advertising ID. It has to be a library because I am not doing it.
I use crashlytics and OneSignal and both could be the problem. But I have found in the documentation of OneSignal that the SDK get it:
https://documentation.onesignal.com/docs/handling-personal-data#section-personal-information-sent-as-data-tags
Some data is automatically collected by the OneSignal SDK. For example, on mobile devices this typically include's the device's advertising id, purchases they have made in your app, the timezone setting of the device, and location data (if your app has location permission).
I am trying to disable the SDK continue collecting the advertising identifier but I don't find how to do it. In addition, the list of collected data is not clear because Advertising identifier does not appear:
https://documentation.onesignal.com/docs/data-collected-by-the-onesignal-sdk
I would need to know how to configure OneSignal SDK for not collecting anymore the Advertising identifier.
Thanks.
Google has started emailing apps that use Advertising Id and do not have a privacy policy to tell them they must add a privacy policy.
You can address this by adding a privacy policy to your Play Store listing and in your app. If you do not already have a privacy policy, there are tools available to create one such as http://www.docracy.com/mobileprivacy (free) or https://www.iubenda.com/en/ ($27/yr)
After speaking a little bit more with JonF, he spoke with OneSignal developers and they said that it is possible to avoid sending the Advertising ID changing some lines in the SDK:
Most of the tracking for Android can be removed from registerUserTask
in
https://github.com/OneSignal/OneSignal-Android-SDK/blob/3a4d4353b1d803852e3b9986b828c9b823801ce5/OneSignalSDK/onesignal/src/main/java/com/onesignal/OneSignal.java#L1180-L1182
The problem is that it is not possible to keep the library integrated with gradle, but at least it is a solution.
I have been thinking to implement the change with Reflection but I don't have much time now for it, it could be another way.
Can I use AdMob ads in my Android apps on AppGallery of Huawei (Huawei Store)?
If not, what ad networks can I use?
Huawei has no restrictions on third-party ad platforms. You may use AdMob but it cannot generate revenue from devices where Google Mobile Services (GMS) is not installed.
You can use Huawei Ads kit as an alternative.
The regulation for In-App Advertisement seems compatible to AdMob, with something should be noticed.
5.3 In-app advertisements must be suitable for their target groups.
Google is banned in China, and may so does AdMob, which may result in a "not-suitable".
5.6 Your app must not link advertisement identifiers with user identities or permanent device identifiers, such as SSAIDs, MAC addresses, and IMEIs, without users' explicit permission.
Due to Does this app use the Advertising Identifier (IDFA)? - AdMob 6.8.0, I am afraid this can cause a rejection.
You can use AdMob on AppGallery apps, However, you won't get anything from Chinese users of our app, AdMob is blocked in China.
I'm planning to build an iOS and Android app with custom advertising on some screen. The custom advertising does not use advertising identifier provided by iOS(IDFA) or Android.
my questions are for the app review from both Apple and google,
Should I still need to indicate that my app has advertising?
Is the use of advertising is mandatory in order to provide custom ad that does not use the advertising identifier?
Is it possible that Google or Apple reject the app if i don't use the Advertising identifier but still provide custom ad?
I am using AdMob in my android application. Do i need to create a Privacy Policy in my application to inform users about cookies that Google uses?
If yes where do i need to put it?
Do i must write it in descriptions on Google Play? Or on fist run do I must show a fragment window? Or can I write the Privacy Policy just in section "About App"?
What do I write?
I read the Google Documents, but i didn't understand clearly.
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/2519872?hl=en
To clarify for anyone who is finding this question:
The answer is yes, you need a privacy policy for your app if you are using AdMob. Refer to: AdMob Help (bottom of the page).
... Additionally, your app's privacy policy may need to be updated to reflect the use of personalized advertising (formerly known as interest-based advertising) served via the Google Mobile Ads SDK. Please take a moment to review your app's privacy policies and ensure that they are up-to-date. Because publisher pages and laws vary across countries, we're unable to suggest specific privacy policy language...
They essentially want you to inform users about the use of targeted advertising. They don't explicitly tell you what to write though.
Personally I think it should be enough to write something about that you use AdMob to serve ads and that AdMob uses the devices advertising id to serve personalized ads based on the users interests (which includes collecting and analyzing user data). A link to the Google page to opt-out of personalized advertising and to Googles Privacy Policies (here and here) can't hurt.
This also suggests that you need to have at least a link to your privacy policy in your app and on the store page. But maybe AdMob doesn't count as handling sensitive data, so maybe the link to the policy on the store page is optional in this case.
As a side note: If you use any Google Services (e.g. Location, Firebase, Places Api) you probably need a privacy policy
Things changed in 2017 (even without AdMob):
AdMob is another subject: I talk about any app event without AdMob (my case for example)
Google threatens to remove my open source app JSAir just for http://android.permission.READ _PHONE_STATE (for UX: I need to check connection is active or not = that's all).
I had the surprise of receiving a mail from Google who wants me to create a privacy policy website now (I did not have before).
I will have to say something like:
This application stores/send/read nothing apart javascript air website information!!! So there is no better privacy conscious application.
I made a public gist and posted the url here is the gist
you can check here
play store
I have developed and published several apps on the Play Store. Because of an old ads sdk (which had a security issue), I had to update all my apps with the new compliant ads sdk.
The problem is that once I update my apps, the update got rejected with this message :
This is a notification that your application, *, for package
ID *, has been removed from Google Play.
Please address the issue described below and submit a compliant
update. Once approved, your application will again be available with
all installs, ratings and reviews intact.
REASON FOR REMOVAL:Violation of section 4.3 of the Developer
Distribution Agreement.Please refer to the policy help article for
more information.
We classify user information including but not limited to, email
address, phone number, name, social media account information, and
contacts as private and confidential information.
An app downloaded from Google Play (or its components or derivative
elements) which transmits this information off of the device without
making this clear to the user and obtaining the user’s explicit
consent are regarded as being in violation of section 4.3 of the DDA.
All removals are tracked. Repeated removals will result in app
suspension, at which point this app will count as a strike against the
good standing of your developer account and no longer be available on
Google Play.
This notification also serves as notice for other apps in your
catalog. You can avoid future removals and/or app suspensions by
immediately ensuring that no other apps in your catalog are in
violation of (but not limited to) the above policy. Before publishing
applications, please ensure your apps’ compliance with the Developer
Distribution Agreement and Content Policy.
If you feel we have made this determination in error, you can visit
this Google Play Help Center article.
The Google Play Team
I am using several ads SDKs :
AdMob (Play services 7.5), AppBrain (10.51), Vungle(3.3.1), InMobi(4.5.5) and StartApp(3.1.1)
I also use analytics :
Google Analytics (Play services 7.5), Crashlytics (Fabric.io, 2.3)
Here are all the permissions I ask for :
CAMERA, ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE, ACCESS_WIFI_STATE,
INTERNET, VIBRATE, WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, BILLING and CHECK_LICENSE
and the features :
android.hardware.camera, android.hardware.camera.autofocus,
android.hardware.camera.front, android.hardware.wifi-required=false
and android.hardware.touchscreen-required=false
And now, my app has been suspended.
I have absolutely no idea of what could be the cause -> is this a specific SDK issue ?
This is likely caused by one of two issues. Either you're using an SDK that is not compliant with the Google Play policy or your SDKs are adding permissions that you're not accounting for in your privacy policy.
This thread may be helpful:
http://forums.makingmoneywithandroid.com/advertising-networks/3584-google-play-developer-term-violation-4.html