Audit the information you need to disclose before submitting your privacy policy and Google Play Data Safety form. Verify collected user data types, third-party SDK sharing (AdMob, Firebase), data retention, account deletion links, and sensitive Android permissions.
This checklist is an educational self-audit tool designed to help developers identify technical data practices before completing Google Play’s Data Safety section. This checklist does not constitute formal legal counsel and cannot independently establish compliance with global data privacy statutes (e.g. GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, or COPPA). Always consult a qualified privacy attorney for binding legal counsel.
Clearly enumerate if you collect user names, email addresses, phone numbers, or account IDs for registration, login, or notifications.
Disclose whether your app accesses coarse location (network-based) or precise location (GPS-based), and whether location is collected in the background.
Disclose payment transactions, purchase history, or credit information. State whether billing is processed via Google Play Billing or an external gateway.
If users upload avatars, voice notes, or documents, specify where these media files are transmitted and whether they are stored encrypted.
Declare device hardware models, OS version, Android ID, and Google Advertising ID (GAID) collected by analytics or advertising libraries.
Explicitly state which data points are required strictly for enabling core features (e.g. syncing profiles, saving gameplay progress, dispatching orders).
Explain that telemetry, screen interaction time, and crash stack traces are gathered to diagnose bugs, improve stability, and monitor performance.
If showing banner, interstitial, or rewarded ads, specify whether ads are personalized or contextual, and describe user opt-out mechanisms.
Detail data processed to detect bot traffic, unauthorized account access, credential stuffing, or financial transaction fraud.
Declare that Google Mobile Ads SDK collects IP address, Advertising ID, diagnostic data, and ad interaction events. Link to Google's Privacy Policy.
Disclose that Firebase collects App Instance IDs, device model, operating system, and crash logs to generate aggregated diagnostics.
Disclose data shared with attribution trackers and social authentication providers, including install referrer parameters and campaign IDs.
Certify that all network transmissions between the mobile client and your backend servers use HTTPS with modern TLS encryption protocols.
State how long user data is retained (e.g. 'for the duration of the active account plus 30 days' or 'anonymized after 12 months'). Avoid vague terms.
Disclose where servers are hosted (e.g. AWS US-East, Google Cloud Europe) and cross-border transfer protections (Standard Contractual Clauses).
Google Play requires a dedicated, publicly accessible web link where users can request account and associated data deletion without reinstalling the app.
Provide an accessible 'Delete Account' button within the app settings that initiates immediate or scheduled deletion of personal identifiers.
Detail procedures for users to request copies of their data, update incorrect information, or withdraw consent for data processing.
Explain in plain English why your app needs ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION or ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION. Background location requires additional Google approval.
State whether camera and microphone are accessed only during active user interaction and confirm that audio/video streams are not recorded covertly.
Android 14 enforces FOREGROUND_SERVICE_* types (data sync, media playback, location). Disclose the user-facing notification paired with the service.
Google Play policy enforcement utilizes both static analysis scanners and human policy reviewers. When you upload an App Bundle, Google scans your manifest permissions and all compiled bytecode for embedded software development kits (SDKs).
If the automated scanner detects an advertising SDK (like Google Mobile Ads or Unity Ads) or an analytics tracker, but your Play Console Data Safety form claims your app collects “No user data,” your submission is flagged immediately for an Inaccurate Data Safety Declaration violation.
Since December 7, 2023, Google Play requires all apps that enable user account creation to provide:
Users must be able to easily locate an account deletion option within the app’s settings or profile screen.
A publicly accessible web page where users who have uninstalled your app can submit an account deletion request without being forced to reinstall your mobile application.
Review official developer documentation to verify current enforcement policies:
Rejections primarily happen when: 1) The Privacy Policy URL returns a 404, requires a login to view, or is not HTTPS; 2) The policy fails to name the specific app or developer entity; 3) The Data Safety form omits data types that Google's automated scanners discover inside embedded SDKs (such as AdMob collecting Advertising IDs); or 4) The app lacks a dedicated web link for account deletion.
If your app allows users to create an account, you must provide an accessible option within the app and a dedicated, publicly accessible web link (URL) where users can request the deletion of their account and associated data without reinstalling the application. You must submit this URL under App Content > Data safety in Play Console.
Yes. From Google Play's regulatory perspective, any third-party library integrated into your APK/AAB that transmits device identifiers, approximate location, or crash telemetry off-device constitutes data collection and sharing that must be disclosed in your Data Safety section.
Generic templates are acceptable as a starting baseline, but they almost always omit the exact data points collected by your specific third-party SDK dependencies. Google Play reviewers compare your declared Data Safety answers against your APK's manifest permissions and binary libraries; mismatches trigger automated policy warnings.
No. This tool is an educational self-audit designed to help developers identify their technical data practices. Privacy laws (such as the EU's GDPR, California's CCPA/CPRA, and Brazil's LGPD) have distinct statutory obligations that require qualified legal advice.
This checklist is strictly an educational tool to help Android developers organize disclosures for Google Play. It does not constitute formal legal counsel.
Consult a qualified technology attorney to ensure your privacy policy complies with regional privacy regulations in every country where you distribute your app.
If Google Play flagged your app for Inaccurate Data Safety Declarations or a broken Privacy Policy URL, our policy specialists can audit your SDK dependencies and formulate an appeal or compliance plan.
Navigating closed testing cohorts, production questionnaires, or policy appeals? Our team provides structured assistance with verified tester networks and Play Console readiness audits.
