Google Play Store · Google Play Terms · View original document ↗

Device Data Collection for Malware Protection

Medium severity Medium confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Unique · 0 of 325 platforms
Share 𝕏 Share in Share 🔒 PDF
Monitor governance changes for Google Play Store Create a free account to receive the weekly governance digest and monitor one platform for governance changes.
Create free account No credit card required.
Document Record

What it is

Google may collect information about your device's network connections, potentially malicious URLs, your operating system, and all apps installed on your device for security purposes. Even if you disable some protections, Google may still receive information about apps installed from Google Play.

This analysis describes what Google Play Store's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

Google collects a broad set of device-level data including all installed applications, not just those from Google Play, for security analysis purposes, and some data collection continues even after a user opts out of certain protections.

Interpretive note: The extent to which data collection continues after disabling some protections is described in general terms, and the precise scope of residual collection is not fully specified in the document.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users' complete list of installed applications, network connection information, and operating system data may be collected and analyzed by Google under the malware protection provision, and disabling some protections does not fully stop data collection about apps installed via Google Play.

How other platforms handle this

Robinhood Medium

Geolocation data, such as device location. Internet or other electronic network activity information, such as browsing history, search history, and information regarding a consumer's interaction with an internet website, application, or advertisement. Device identifiers, such as IP address, unique d...

PlanetScale Medium

When you visit the Careers portion of our websites, we collect the information that you provide to us in connection with your job application. This includes but is not limited to business and personal contact information, professional credentials and skills, educational and work history and other in...

American Airlines Medium

American does not knowingly collect personal information directly from children – persons under the age of 13, or another age if required by applicable law – other than when required to comply with the law or for safety and security reasons. Due to the nature of our Services, we may collect travel i...

See all platforms with this clause type →

Monitoring

Google Play Store has changed this document before.

Receive same-day alerts, structured change summaries, and monitoring for up to 10 platforms.

Start Watcher free trial Or create a free account →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Để bảo vệ bạn khỏi phần mềm độc hại từ bên thứ ba, URL độc hại và các sự cố bảo mật khác, Google có thể nhận thông tin về kết nối mạng trên Thiết bị của bạn, các URL có thể độc hại, hệ điều hành và các ứng dụng được cài đặt trên Thiết bị của bạn thông qua Google Play hay từ các nguồn khác. Bạn có thể chọn vô hiệu hóa một số tính năng bảo vệ này trong cài đặt trên Thiết bị của mình. Tuy nhiên, Google có thể tiếp tục nhận thông tin về các ứng dụng được cài đặt qua Google Play và các ứng dụng được cài đặt trên Thiết bị của bạn từ các nguồn khác có thể tiếp tục được phân tích về các vấn đề bảo mật mà không cần gửi thông tin đến Google.

— Excerpt from Google Play Store's Google Play Terms

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages GDPR regarding the lawful basis for collecting device-level data including installed application inventories, which may constitute personal data in the EU. The GDPR data minimization principle is relevant given the breadth of data described. CCPA applies to California residents regarding disclosure of device data collection. The FTC Act applies to the adequacy and accuracy of consumer disclosures about data collection scope. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The collection of all installed application data from a device goes beyond data about Google Play apps specifically and represents a relatively broad device-level data collection scope. The disclosure that some data collection continues even after disabling protections may create user expectation mismatches and warrants clear consumer-facing communication. JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU users have GDPR rights regarding the lawful basis for processing installed application data, which could constitute sensitive behavioral or personal data. The partial opt-out mechanism described may not satisfy GDPR requirements if processing lacks a valid legal basis beyond consent. Illinois and other US states with biometric and device privacy laws should be considered in a broader assessment. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Organizations deploying managed Android devices should account for this data collection in their device management policies and data processing impact assessments. Enterprise procurement of Google Play services should include an assessment of this provision against corporate data governance requirements. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Privacy impact assessments should document the installed application data collection as a distinct data flow. The partial opt-out scenario, where some collection continues after disabling protections, should be clearly mapped and disclosed in privacy notices. Legal teams should assess whether the current disclosure satisfies GDPR transparency requirements for this specific data type.

Full compliance analysis

Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.

Track 1 platform — free Try Watcher free for 14 days

Free: track 1 platform + weekly digest. Watcher: 10 platforms + same-day alerts. No credit card required.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has authority over consumer data collection practices and the adequacy of disclosure under the FTC Act
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
Connecticut Data Privacy Act Amendments
US-CT
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
DMA
European Union
ePrivacy Directive
European Union
FTC Act Section 5
United States Federal
GDPR
European Union
Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act
US-IN
Kentucky Consumer Data Protection Act
US-KY
Universal Opt-Out Mechanism Expansion 2026
US

Provision details

Document information
Document
Google Play Terms
Entity
Google Play Store
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 11, 2026
Last verified
May 11, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-009983
Document ID
CA-D-00669
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
95f92bdb933dbb5f3f32906f54151036932ccdcf4a22379996df8f335cf30d58
Analysis generated
May 11, 2026 00:50 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Google Play Store
Document: Google Play Terms
Record ID: CA-P-009983
Captured: 2026-05-11 00:50:02 UTC
SHA-256: 95f92bdb933dbb5f…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/google-play-store/google-play-terms/device-data-collection-for-malware-protection/
Accessed: May 13, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

Other risks in this policy

Related Analysis

Professional Governance Intelligence

Need to monitor specific governance provisions?

Professional includes provision-level monitoring, governance timelines, regulatory mapping, and audit-ready analysis.

Arbitration clauses AI governance Data rights Indemnification Retention policies
Start Professional free trial

Or start with Watcher →

Built from archived source documents, structured governance mappings, and historical version tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Google Play Store's Device Data Collection for Malware Protection clause do?

Google collects a broad set of device-level data including all installed applications, not just those from Google Play, for security analysis purposes, and some data collection continues even after a user opts out of certain protections.

How does this clause affect you?

Users' complete list of installed applications, network connection information, and operating system data may be collected and analyzed by Google under the malware protection provision, and disabling some protections does not fully stop data collection about apps installed via Google Play.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Google Play Store?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google Play Store.