Google To Ban Call Recording Apps On Play Store From May 11

Synopsis: The anticipated upcoming change means that Android phone users will no longer be able to record calls using apps. However, the call recording facility could be availed by the users through their smartphone's native call recording feature. Also, the crackdown on third-party apps will not hamper the native feature and users can continue to avail the same.

Coming down heavily on third-party call recording apps on Android smartphones, Google has reportedly planned to remove the apps from Google Play Store. Reports suggest that the update will come into effect from May 11. The tech giant recently updated its Google Play Store Policy and those include the aim of removing the third-party call recording apps from android devices.

The anticipated upcoming change means that Android phone users will no longer be able to record calls using apps. However, the call recording facility could be availed by the users through their smartphone’s native call recording feature. Also, the crackdown on third-party apps will not hamper the native feature and users can continue to avail the same.

Stating the new update in the policy, Google mentioned, 

We’re updating our Accessibility policy to explain that the Accessibility API is not designed for and cannot be requested for remote call audio recording.

Notably, Google has always been against the call recording apps for quite a while now as it believes that recording calls are an invasion of users’ privacy, the reason being they are unknowingly being recorded on a call. This has resulted in Google adding an alert system on its dialer apps that announce “This call is now being recorded” for both sides while the recorder is turned on.

The tech giant began the crackdown from Android 6 and later on it restricted real-time call recording over the microphone on Android 10. Meanwhile, Google’s Android 11 Beta had a feature of alerting the user with a beep when their call was recorded. However, this move forced third-party call recording applications to modify their methods and they began using Accessibility Services in order to record calls on Android 10 and later versions.

Call recording in several countries is illegal, it is a potential privacy breach of the person whose call is being recorded without his/her consent. Considering the factor, the tech giant is also coming down heavily on the apps that provide the service of call recording.

Although Google’s dialer app provides the call-recording feature it alerts the person with a sound of ‘beep’ as a sign of the call getting recorded. However, as some smartphone companies already provide the in-built call recording feature for their users, that will continue to go on. Xiaomi, Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, Realme, and OnePlus are the companies whose smartphones have inbuilt call recording features and the list includes Google itself.