Is my app or its dependencies violating the Android Advertising Id policy?

Question

I\'ve just received this message from Google Play but I\'m not collecting the Advertising ID.

Reason for warning: Violation of Usage of Android Advert

Answer 1

this is the cause Google Play Services version 4.0 introduced new APIs and an ID for use by advertising and analytics providers. We need to provide a privacy statement and make it available on the web. For a sample go https://digital.com/blog/best-privacy-policy-generators/

To change settings on your android app. Developer Console, Store Listing, scroll down to Privacy Policy. Add the url here.

Answer 2

step 1 : add privacy and policy url to play store console

step 2 : create a button example in side bar when button clicked just call this below method and add your url here

private void callThisMethodWhenPrivacyButtonClicked() {
        AlertDialog.Builder alert = new AlertDialog.Builder(this);
        alert.setTitle("Title here");

        WebView wv = new WebView(this);
        wv.loadUrl("{your privacy and policy uurl }");
        wv.setWebViewClient(new WebViewClient() {
            @Override
            public boolean shouldOverrideUrlLoading(WebView view, String url) {
                view.loadUrl(url);

                return true;
            }
        });

        alert.setView(wv);
        alert.setNegativeButton("Close", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int id) {
                dialog.dismiss();
            }
        });
        alert.show();
    }

Answer 3

I am not using Crashlytics or any other thing. Just a simple offline app with Facebook Ads. Still my app was removed from the Play Store.

Issue: Violation of Usage of Android Advertising ID policy and section 4.8 of the Developer Distribution Agreement

Issue Description: Google Play requires developers to provide a valid privacy policy when the app requests or handles sensitive user or device information. We’ve identified that your app collects and transmits the Android advertising identifier, which is subject to a privacy policy requirement. If your app collects the Android advertising ID, you must provide a valid privacy policy in both the designated field in the Play Console, and from within the app.

Solution:

1. I created a Privacy Policy for my app using this link and edited it according to my app.

2. I created a url for my privacy policy using this link.

3. Log in to Google Play Console and Go to the Store presence and then store listing and paste your url in Privacy Policy section.

4. Submit your update.

Note - In my case I did not have to submit any new build with privacy policy as mentioned in mail and my app was visible in play store within hours I did the steps I mentioned above. If in case your app is not visible in play store after following the above points then you should put one privacy policy section in your app too and submit a new build.

Answer 4

The issue states the violation is due to using user's Android Advertising ID. I had the same problem. I created a privacy policy and added the url to that in my app and to the Google Play page. Submitted an update and the App is live again. Make sure to mention that you are collecting a personally identifiable information, Android Advertising ID, in your app. I've given a link to my app's privacy policy, refer to that if you need to know how exactly it is mentioned.

This is my privacy policy:

https://nwsty.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use-android/

You can easily create a privacy policy here:

https://app-privacy-policy-generator.firebaseapp.com/

Just for reference, this is the app in question: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.instancea.nwsty&hl=en_US

Answer 5

Today many developers are getting this same issue. I also got this issue. I didn't collect any sensitive data, I am not even showing ads to my users. In your case the Crashlytics lib could be an issue. It deals with advertising IDs. In the mail they mention the required action:

Action required: Add a privacy policy to your store listing and app

So I think all of us should add a privacy policy on the store listing as well as on the app. Before taking the action we should go through the related privacy policy. Here are some links from where you can get help:

Privacy policy to upload an app

Usage of Android Advertising ID

Developer Distribution Agreement

Developer Program Policies

Answer 6

If your app uses Firebase SDKs like analytics and all, you can disable Advertising ID collection on SDK level by putting the following line in your AndroidManifest.xml file under the Application tag.

<meta-data android:name="google_analytics_adid_collection_enabled" android:value="false" />

You can read more about it here.

My app was not even an ad supported application but still it got hit by this section 4.8 clause. By employing the above technique I was able to get it back on Google Play without submitting any privacy policy.