Google has announced a new policy for personal loan apps on Android that prohibits them from accessing personal data on users’ phones, including photos and contacts lists.
According to a recent update to its policy center page, apps that offer personal loans are not allowed to request access to personal data such as photos, videos, contacts, phone numbers, precise location data, or external storage. This change will come into effect on May 31.
The move is likely in response to reports of debt collectors using mobile apps to access personal contacts from users’ phones to contact their friends and family about outstanding debts, particularly in India and Kenya. On the whole, this is a positive move to protect users’ personal data and privacy on Android devices.
