Google will soon start blocking VPN apps available on its Android Play Store
Google has stated that it will soon begin preventing VPN apps from blocking or obstructing ads that are available on its Android Play Store marketplace. According to the business’s Developer Program Policy, which was released in July 2022, as of November 1, only VPN apps that use VPN service and whose main purpose is to provide a virtual private network are allowed to establish a secure device-level tunnel to a distant server. According to Google, legal VPN apps shouldn’t gather sensitive or personal information without clear notification and, more significantly, user agreement. Also, they shouldn’t reroute traffic or change ads in a way that could affect how other services make money.
It was disclosed earlier this year that Google would be making some adjustments to the Play Store, including placing some very stringent limitations on VPN programs that may be downloaded on Android smartphones. Blokada, a Swedish ad-blocking VPN app, has expressed concerns about the law, saying that it “would hamper at least the previous generation of its software.” will hinder at least the previous iteration of its software. ” This refers to v5, which post author and blog moderator Reda Labdaoui says(opens in new tab) has had “several takedowns in the past.”
According to the same Blokada blog article, v6 is not anticipated to experience the same problems because it makes use of cloud filtering. In addition to not violating Google policies, according to Blokada, this should have less of an impact on battery life, device speed, and network speed than local VPN filtering. According to Apple’s guidelines, VPN apps must make use of the NEVPNManager API, and developers must be employees of a corporation, not an individual.