Policing is the term, and it's all for a good reason.
Making the big round of news this week is Google, with several product developments and policy changes up on its sleeves. The latest being its crackdown on deceptive and erotic apps in its Google Play Store.
Google has announced recent tweaks in its developer policy aimed at cleaning up its backyard of devious activities. There are reports saying the company emailed the announcement to developers.
The revised policies cover a variety of issues. One is on sexually explicit material.
"Apps that contain or promote pornography are prohibited; this includes sexually explicit or erotic content, icons, titles, or descriptions. Google has a zero-tolerance policy against child sexual abuse imagery. If we become aware of content with child sexual abuse imagery, we will report it to the appropriate authorities and delete the Google Accounts of those involved with the distribution," the company explains in a blog post.
Other changes aim to reduce, if not eliminate, intrusive or unsolicited advertising or pop-up ads that spoof an app, a system or service, track usage and locations of consumers without permission and modify the browser on behalf of third parties or advertiser.
Take for example apps that say "Angry Byrdz," for which the real app maker of the original game might get angry with.
Google has also prohibited developers from using short messaging system (SMS) to communicate with consumers without any prior explicit permission.
The developers have been given 15 days to comply with these revised guidelines. Otherwise, Google will begin to issue warnings or delete noncompliant apps from its Google Play Store.
Developers and users have always known the Google Play marketplace as a platform that's open and free, as opposed to the restrictive method of iTunes App Store of Apple.
The guys over at Mountain View made it clear that they are serious this time.
"In the event that your app is removed from Google Play, you will receive an email notification to that effect... Serious or repeated violations of the Developer Distribution Agreement or this Content Policy will result in account termination. Repeated infringement of intellectual property rights, including copyright, will also result in account termination," Google says.
It seems Google's crackdown will help the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) own recent crackdown on tech companies that violate the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, safeguarding the mobile advertising space as well.
