Google has disclosed that it obstructed 2.36 million Android applications from launching on the Play Store in 2024 due to violations of regulations that could present security threats to users. This action is part of the tech titan’s ongoing endeavor to eliminate harmful apps, including malware and spyware, from its official Android application marketplace.
In addition to halting these apps, Google also suspended 158,000 developer accounts that sought to spread malicious software. Recent statistics indicate a rise in app rejections compared to prior years, with 2.28 million apps prohibited in 2023 and 1.5 million in 2022. On the other hand, the total of suspended developer accounts decreased from 333,000 in 2023 to 173,000 in 2022.
A key factor contributing to the surge in app removals is Google’s incorporation of artificial intelligence to aid human reviewers. The company notes that AI-based evaluations were utilized in 92% of instances where apps were flagged for regulatory breaches. This strategy has improved Google’s capability to swiftly detect and eliminate harmful applications before they reach users.
“Currently, over 92% of our human reviews for harmful apps are assisted by AI, enabling us to take swifter and more precise actions to help avert harmful apps from becoming accessible on Google Play,” Google remarked in a recent statement. “This has allowed us to prevent more damaging apps than ever from reaching users.”
Alongside obstructing harmful applications, Google has also restricted 1.3 million apps from requesting excessive permissions, ensuring that these apps do not obtain unwarranted access to sensitive user data. These initiatives underscore Google’s dedication to enhancing security on the Play Store and shielding Android users from possible dangers.
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