A new Google Play Store policy will go into effect on May 11 to block third-party call recording apps from online storefronts.
The change to Google Play’s policy, first spotted on Reddit by user /u/NLL-APPS, means that developers’ access to the Accessibility API will be further restricted. This has been used as a workaround to enable remote call recording, but starting May 11, Google will not allow accessibility services for apps listed in the Play Store. Additionally, Google is presenting a recent developer webinar (h/t Android Authority).
Many applications allow the recording of call audio without the knowledge of other participants. Therefore, this policy change only affects third-party apps in the Play Store. Many default dialer applications (eg Google Phone, Mi Dialer, etc.) have native call recording capabilities built into specific devices. The default dialer app on devices like Pixel and Xiaomi smartphones will not be affected by the change.
Moun Choi, Google’s head of content operations, explained the immediate consequences in a dedicated developer webinar: “Remote, in this case, refers to the recording of a call, where the person on the other end doesn’t know the recording is happening.
“If the app is the default dialer on the phone and is also preloaded, the accessibility feature is not required to access the incoming audio stream. So no violation. As this is a clarification of existing policy, the new Languages will be available for all applications starting May 11.”
So, in essence, this means that if you can use the preinstalled dialer app to record calls, you won’t lose functionality. However, if you use an app downloaded from the Google Play Store, call recording may not continue. That said, Google hasn’t said whether it will remove existing apps that use this Accessibility API from the Play Store.
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