---
title: "Google Tightens Privacy Enforcement as Play Store May Shrink"
locale: "en"
language: "en-HK"
published: "2017-02-14T13:14:39+08:00"
updated: "2026-03-17T23:04:47.235Z"
canonical: "https://accordhk.com/blog/google-tightens-privacy-enforcement-as-play-store-may-shrink-194"
---

# Google Tightens Privacy Enforcement as Play Store May Shrink

With more than 2.6 million apps worldwide, Google Play may soon shrink as Google moves to enforce its privacy policy requirements more strictly. Developers were reminded to submit their latest privacy policies by March 15.

## In brief

Google Play apps that fail to meet privacy policy requirements after March 15 could face regional visibility restrictions or removal. Google had long required privacy disclosures but had not strictly enforced the policy.

With more than 2.6 million [applications (apps)](<http://mobiledeveloperhk.com>) worldwide, the [Google Play store](<http://android-app-development-hk.com>) may soon shrink. Several overseas media outlets recently reported that Google had emailed Google Play developers, reminding them to submit their latest privacy policies by March 15. After the deadline, apps that fail to comply could face restrictions on the regions where they are displayed, or, in the most serious cases, removal from the store.

In fact, Google’s [Android](<http://androidappdevelopmenthk.com>) developer center has long explicitly required developers to provide privacy disclosures, including what user data they access and how they use and share it. However, Google had not strictly enforced this policy in the past. This has also led to a widespread view in the industry that, compared with [Apple’s App Store](<http://mobileapplicationdevelopmentcompanyhk.com>), Google Play is more chaotic and poorly organized.

http://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20170210003540-260412

## Frequently asked questions

### Why might the Google Play store shrink?

Google had reminded developers to submit their latest privacy policies by March 15. Apps that failed to comply after the deadline could be removed from the store.

### What penalties could noncompliant apps face?

They could face restrictions on the regions where they are displayed. The most serious penalty would be removal from Google Play.

### What must developers explain in their privacy disclosures?

They must explain what user data their apps access and how that data is used and shared.

### Was this a new privacy requirement?

No. Google’s Android developer center had long explicitly required privacy disclosures, but Google had not strictly enforced the policy in the past.