Chris BanesAfter what feels like a lifetime of development, I've decided to deprecate and archive Tivi 🫡
Princess Pixel Light@cb those new play store requirements are something aren't they?
Stylianos Gakis@pixellight @cb If their OKRs is "# of developer accounts closed", they got this feature juuuust right
Google have always been obsessed by the ‘top’ 50-100 apps, and this is just an another example of indie apps having a much harder time on Google Play.
I can kinda see why they did it (reduce spammy/fraudulent apps), but it’s an extremely heavy handed way to do it, and will likely end up hurting them long term, just by pissing off developers.
Feels like a zero-sum game mentality.
Nik@nikclayton @cb @gakisstylianos correct, I didn't mention it because the rules are still terrible regardless, I've complained elsewhere before
@pixellight @cb @gakisstylianos Not anywhere that's obviously discoverable (per screenshot).
If I buy something on Play my contract is with the app author. I think it's reasonable (and in many jurisdictions, like the one I'm in right now, a legal requirement, see https://www.kmu.admin.ch/kmu/en/home/concrete-know-how/sme-management/e-commerce/creating-own-website/statutory-obligations-in-switzerland-and-the-eu%20.html ) for the address of the entity I'm entering into a contract with to be public.
I'd be happy to read your counterpoints, if you have a link.
@nikclayton @cb @gakisstylianos I'll be happy to link it when my instance re-enables text search and I can actually find it
Remind Me@nikclayton Ok, I will remind you on Tuesday Nov 19, 2024 at 11:49 PM PST.
@nikclayton Here is your reminder!
@nikclayton @pixellight @gakisstylianos
I’ve put my thoughts here:
Chris Banes (@[email protected])
@[email protected] I couldn’t find anything on the Google Play documentation linking this with the EU regulation. My guess is that they’ve used the EU regulation as cover to force this much wider-reaching verification system in for everyone. In comparison, the App Store has handled the EU law change very differently. There it’s a very simple dialog with 2 options, and it’s on developers to self-certify.
hidden@cb I still don't understand how this doxxing of small developers is legal!
Completely insane practice which will force all small developer and their apps to vanish, just like tivi
@hidden @cb @cb https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/running-business/digitalising/setting-up-business-website/indexamp_en.htm is a cite that EU businesses must display their legal address.
https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/running-business/start-ups/starting-business/index_en.htm demonstrates that sole traders (where the business and the owner are the same legal entity) are covered by this.
If you don't want your address displayed then don't charge for the app. If you don't want your private address displayed, start a business that provides legal cover. These are the same as the rules for sellers of physical goods.
Nik, you are wrong. See this app for example: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.dentotino.fibonacciballs
It's free, and yet PII is there. If anyone wants, they can visit the location and yell at the developer.
People with old Google Play Dev accounts cannot disable showing of the address even for free apps.
I don't want to know Chris's living place to use tivi. I don't want others to find my place to use my free apps. Yet Google is forcing this now.
@hidden @cb The address is there because it's a business account.
Compare with https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.pachli, which is from my personal developer account, and only shows the country.
(It's also possible that Google's definition of "monetization" includes showing ads, as well as the definite paid apps, subscriptions, or in-app purchases. The documentation is unclear on that, but if it does then the app you linked to also shows ads).
Showing ads is not selling an application, it's still free app! I shouldn't be able to see his house number!
My account was made more then a decade ago. I don't have an option to opt out of billing. In my Account details I don't even have an option of "Whether you plan to earn money on Google Play"
Neither does Chris. The only option, he is forced into, is to shut down the account.
Nobody should create a company for free apps to hide their PII!
(1) have a "Developer account for personal use" (per https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/13634885?hl=en&sjid=11900995263768945090-EU#zippy=%2Cdeveloper-account-for-personal-use%2Cdeveloper-account-for-organization-or-business-use)
(2) have no apps that are monetized, and
(3) Google is still showing your full legal address in contravention of their policies, then
(4) you've got an easy case (especially in the EU) for whatever your jurisdiction's Data Protection Comissioner is. You could also start by escalating directly to Google's privacy legal team to have the information removed.
https://support.google.com/policies/contact/general_privacy_form?sjid=11900995263768945090-EU
@hidden @cb and re the app you mentioned, even though it's free, it still appears to be operated by a business account.
The account name is "Mimo Mago Productions" which smells like a business / sole trader.
It's also sketchy that they have a .uk domain for a Philippines address. And their website uses what seems to be a shady ad/monetisation provider (hydro.online).
Thank you for the information. I'll leave the account for now and see if it starts showing my information.
Congrats on Pachli!