With the addition of a data security section created by the developer this year, Google Play has removed the old list of app permissions. The Play Store is now reflecting this decision in response to user feedback and both will coexist.
Update 8/31: Google has brought back the app permissions list with version 32.1.10-21 from the Play Store. To access, open Menu > select ‘About this app’ > scroll down to ‘Application info’. Green View More takes you to the menu, with Google noting the app version and how:
You can disable access to these permissions in Settings. Updates to [app] You may automatically add additional capabilities within each group.
Original 7/21: in a short topic This morningAndroid Developers (AndroidDev) said on Twitter that it “has heard your feedback that you found the App Permissions section in Google Play useful, and we’ve decided to bring it back.” It will be back “soon,” but the company hasn’t said if it will be through a server-side change or if a new version of the Play Store app is required.
The Data Security section gives users a simplified view of how the app collects, shares, and secures user data, but we also want to make the app’s permissions information easy to view for users to understand the app’s ability to access specific data and actions as well.
As Google summarizes, the Play permissions list “is based on the install-time permissions that the app authorizes in its manifest” and “represents the app’s ability to access specific data”. Data integrity focuses on what the app collects and shares with third parties, similar to the Apple App Store.
The company remains a big supporter of the new Play approach, but it understands why people prefer the more realistic previous model to see the full list of permissions needed to use an app before downloading it.
As of July 20, Google has warned directly about “new app submissions and incompatible app updates” that do not fully fill the data security model. Developers have until August 22 to comply or they won’t be able to publish new apps or updates. After that, the apps may be removed from the Play Store.
This morning’s announcement ended with the following note:
We will continue to receive feedback and work closely with the developer community to prioritize data privacy and transparency for users.
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