VPNs are really useful and in fact their use is already quite widespread. This service is capable of protecting our data when we are going to surf the Internet, since it encrypts all traffic. In addition, some VPN apps are also capable of blocking ads, something Google seems to disagree with. For this reason, starting in November, the company plans to ban VPN apps that block ads from its Play Store . We tell you more about it.
It is clear that Google cares about advertising , since in fact there is no application in its store that serves to block advertising. This change in their VPN policies may come as a surprise to many, especially those responsible for these ad-blocking VPN apps.
Goodbye to VPNs that avoid advertising?
As we have told you before, the new policies that Google will introduce in November, specifically on the 1st of that month, will prohibit Android VPN applications in its store that block or interfere in any way with advertising . This change can generate a series of quite important problems in some applications of this type, since many people search for them precisely for this reason.
Starting as we say next November 1, Google will only allow applications in its store that use the Android VPNService base class and that work mainly as a VPN, they can open a secure tunnel at the device level. In this way, Google will prohibit all those VPN applications that prevent applications from displaying advertising , since this would affect the monetization of said apps.
Google’s new T&C (or general contracting conditions) detail that developers will be required to declare the use of VPNService in the Google Play listing of their applications, in addition to encrypting device data at the VPN endpoint and complying with all Developer Program Policies, especially those related to ad fraud , permissions, and malware.
This is not the first time that Google has launched a “crusade” against apps that prevent advertising . For several years now, it is not possible to find applications on Android that block ads from other applications of the operating system, with the exception of browsers. The company’s intention is to allow developers to “create safer, higher-performing ad blockers.”
Apple has a very similar policy with VPNs
This new Google policy does not differ too much from what we can find in the Apple App Store. It includes a similar requirement to use a specific VPN API, called in this case NEVPNManager, which is only available to those developers who are part of an organization, not to any individual developer who is not part of this collective. In fact, the iOS rules state the following:
You must make a clear statement of what user data will be collected and how it will be used on an app screen prior to any user action to purchase or use the service. Apps that offer VPN services may not sell, use, or disclose to third parties any data for any purpose , and must commit to this in their privacy policy.
While it’s true that Apple’s policies don’t specifically address advertising like Android’s, it’s very likely that the iOS guidelines leave the door open for Apple to be able to ban apps that might restrict the operation of other apps .