Google collects information about your device's network activity, installed apps (including apps not from Google Play), and URLs you visit as part of its malware protection system — and some of this data collection continues even if you turn off the protection feature.
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
This provision means Google is collecting a broad inventory of all apps on your device, not just Google Play apps, and some of this data collection cannot be fully disabled, raising significant privacy concerns about the scope of ongoing device surveillance.
Consumers who disable malware protection may not fully stop Google from receiving data about apps installed on their device, meaning a comprehensive app inventory and network connection data may be continuously transmitted to Google regardless of user settings.
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"To protect you against malicious third party software, URLs, and other security issues, Google may receive information about your Device's network connections, potentially harmful URLs, the operating system, and apps installed on your Device through Google Play or from other sources. Google may warn you if it considers an app or URL to be unsafe, or Google may remove or block its installation on your Device if it is known to be harmful to devices, data or users. You can choose to disable some of these protections in the settings on your Device, however, Google may continue to receive information about apps installed through Google Play, and apps installed on your Device from other sources may continue to be analyzed for security issues without sending information to Google.— Excerpt from Google Play Store's Google Play Terms
(1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision implicates GDPR Art. 6(1)(f) (legitimate interests as legal basis for security processing), Art. 13 (transparency obligations for data collected from devices), Art. 5(1)(c) (data minimisation principle), and CCPA §1798.100 (right to know what personal information is collected). The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA, 18 U.S.C. §2510) may apply to network connection monitoring. UK GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) apply to UK users. Enforcement authorities include national DPAs under GDPR, the FTC (US), and the UK ICO. (2)
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This provision means Google is collecting a broad inventory of all apps on your device, not just Google Play apps, and some of this data collection cannot be fully disabled, raising significant privacy concerns about the scope of ongoing device surveillance.
Consumers who disable malware protection may not fully stop Google from receiving data about apps installed on their device, meaning a comprehensive app inventory and network connection data may be continuously transmitted to Google regardless of user settings.
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