Google Mandates Android Apps To Allow Users Deleting Their Accounts

Google Mandates Android Apps To Allow Users Deleting Their Accounts

With the new rule, apps are required to provide an easy way for users to remove their accounts, even when the app is uninstalled from the device.

Google is introducing a new rule for Play Store apps which requires them to provide an option which is “readily discoverable” to delete account data, both in-app and on the website. The company says this is to provide users “greater clarity and control over their in-app data.” This rule will apply to any apps that contains sign-in or account creation elements – and Google is set to provide a link (from developers) inside the store page that links to webpages for account deletion purposes.

The new rule has seemingly covered potential loopholes as well. Developers who only allows user to temporarily disable or freeze their accounts will not meet Google’s new requirements, which mandates that all data associated with the account must go, unless they have ‘legitimate reasons’ to need them (such as regulatory compliance, for which must be disclosed to the user). The new rule will only be in effect starting December 7th this year, with end users seeing the change in early next year – though developers can apply for extensions until May 31st next year.

Similar policies has been implemented in Apple’s App Store back in 2021 (which went into effect in June 2022), but Apple’s implementation do not require developers to provide ways to delete account data from the web as well.

Source: The Verge | 9to5Google

Pokdepinion: Good move. Account deletion is still a cumbersome process for some services as of today, so let’s hope this changes that.