Apps stores like Google Play Store are currently flooded with generative AI apps. Apps like ChatGPT, Bing, Lensa, and others have become valuable platforms for users. However, the extensive use of AI is also raising concerns about its potential misuse. Deep fakes, explicit content, and other offensive content make people vulnerable. To protect users from these issues, Google has recently updated its developer policies for Android apps on the Play Store.
Read More: Mumbai Division Of Central Railway Introduces Flexible Working Hours For Well-Being Of Employees
In line with its latest policy update, Google will be implementing a set of fresh guidelines for content on the PlayStore beginning next year. The new regulations are aimed at both apps and users to promote responsible use of AI.
According to Google’s recent blog post, Android apps incorporating generative AI will be subject to new requirements starting in the early months of next year. These applications will be required to include a dedicated button for users to flag or report any objectionable content. Furthermore, they must follow new rules about what kind of AI content is allowed.
The new AI-generated content policy of Google will apply to a variety of AI apps, such as chatbots, image generators, and video or audio creators that feature real people. However, apps that host, summarize, or use AI as a productivity feature are not covered by the policy. Google aims to improve Android app quality, safety, and privacy with these policy updates, which are designed to create a more secure and reliable user experience.
Additionally, Google has also outlined the scope of its AI-generated content policy, identifying examples of “problematic AI content” such as nonconsensual deepfakes, fraudulent recordings, misleading election content, sexually explicit generative AI apps, and malicious code creation. Google is also changing the permissions required by generative AI apps like ChatGPT, which will only be allowed to access photos and videos for core functionality. As a result, AI apps like ChatGPT that do not need storage access to function but often request access to photos or videos will soon need to rely on Google’s system picker for these permissions.
“Photos and videos on a user’s device are considered personal and sensitive user data and should be treated with utmost privacy best practices,” said Google. “This sensitive information leaves users vulnerable to leaks or targets of exploitation, so minimizing this access helps avoid the burden on developers of handling such sensitive data.”
Only apps that need to access many photos and videos will still be able to get general permissions. Apps that only need to access a few photos or videos will have to use Google’s photo picker instead.
Meanwhile, Google is also changing how apps can show full-screen notifications. Right now, many apps use this feature to try to trick people into buying subscriptions or in-app purchases. When the new policy goes into effect, Google says that only apps that really need to use full-screen notifications will be able to do so, and they will need to get special permission from Google.
