Google's new policy puts call recording applications in peril.
Google has officially announced a change in its Google Play store policy that will clamp down on call recording applications available through the store, a change that will be announced on May 11, 2022, which will prevent external applications from accessing the ability to record voice calls from, Which means to terminate these applications completely.
While some manufacturers of Android phones such as Xiaomi, Samsung and even Google Pixel phones provide a built-in option to record calls, the feature is only available in some countries around the world and is not available globally according to the local laws in each country, which makes users turn to external applications that provide a recording feature. Calls, which are applications that often do not offer the feature in the best way, and most of them are filled with annoying ads.
Google has worked for years to get rid of call recording applications for Android phones, as the company got rid of a software feature built into Android that allowed developers to easily integrate call recording into their applications, with the launch of Android 6, but the developers did not run out of tricks, as they found ways Others, Google got rid of some of them with the launch of Android 9, and in Android 10, Google completely banned the recording of calls through the microphone.
The developers circumvented Google’s permanent ban, as they relied on the Accessibility features in Android 10 and later, in order to provide call recording for Android users, but the recent announcement from Google means that it will not allow external applications to use this trick to record the voice of calls, which means the end of applications Which provides this feature or feature, with the implementation of the new changes on May 11, 2022.
Google confirmed that the change in its policies regarding call recording will only affect external applications, which means that users who have the feature built into their phones or the official calling application on their phones should not worry about losing the feature.
Outside call-recording apps are effectively banned by Google's policy.
The update is part of Google's crackdown on non-accessibility apps that utilise accessibility APIs.
Starting next month, a new Google policy will effectively outlaw call-recording apps from the Play Store.
Call recording will no longer be enabled via Google's accessibility APIs, according to the change, which was first noticed by Ars Technica. It's part of Google's continuous assault on apps that utilise its accessibility APIs for technical workarounds rather than accessibility.
Call-recording apps are virtually no longer allowed in the Play Store because the accessibility APIs are the only means for third-party apps to record calls on Android. The prohibition is scheduled to go into effect on May 11th.
Google claimed in a statement to CNET that its accessibility APIs are designed to enable people with disabilities use its products and applications, not to record phone calls.
Though the policy prohibits call-recording apps from being downloaded through Google's app store, it does not mean that Android users will be unable to use them. Unlike Apple's iOS, Android is a free operating system that allows users to download programmes from third-party app stores.
The method, known as sideloading, provides users with more options, but it also exposes them to potential security and privacy issues, according to numerous security experts.