Android apps will let you delete your account and all your personal data

As part of its strategy to strengthen Android privacy, Google has ordered all developers to implement a feature that allows users to erase all their personal data in any app.. While some apps already offer this feature, the process is usually confusing or time consuming. However, everything is now required to facilitate this action.

Google believes that users should have full control over their data. Applications, for their part, must be transparent about how they manage information. There are a few things to keep in mind regarding this initiative, which is sure to have a positive impact on Android.

“For apps that allow you to create accounts, their developers should soon offer the ability to delete accounts and data in the app and on the web,” they note in the post. AndroidGoogle Developers.

What do you mean by “online”? Developers must allow deletion of data through an external website. This way, if the user has already uninstalled the app from their Android device, they don’t need to download it again to remove their personal information.

“This is an online requirement that will be associated with a form of data security, especially important as a user can request the deletion of an account and its data without having to reinstall the application.”

Google.

Google points out that when a user deletes their account, the app should automatically delete all associated personal data. Thus, there is no need to perform two separate processes.

However, if a person is not going to delete their account, but is going to delete some personal data, the application must provide this. In some cases, an app needs to store certain data to enforce its security practices on Android. If so, they can keep them, but they must tell the user what they are and how they use them.

Of course, Mountain View residents understand that these changes can hardly be made overnight. For this reason, they will give developers enough time to adapt to the rules, especially those that do not currently have data deletion features or a website dedicated to managing them.

“While we’re excited about the increased control this will give people over their data, we understand it will take time for developers to prepare, especially those without an existing delete feature or online presence, so we’re sharing information and resources starting today.”

Google.

Hence Android apps have until early 2024 to implement changes. For those applications that need more time to implement the recommendations, they can request an extension until May 31, 2023.