Data safety details on the Google Play Store

Help users understand how your app collects and shares data.

In order to help users understand how your app collects and shares data, app owners must enter data safety details of their app within the Google Play developer console prior to being able to publish. With this information, users will be able to learn about some of the data types the app may collect, and whether that data is linked to them or used to track them. The information below describes data collection and sharing performed by the app when using the standard building blocks provided by our platform. If you're using web service blocks to extend your app's functionality, then please make sure to take this into account when answering the data safety questions posed by Google.

A. Open the right screen

The data safety details can be provided through the Google Play developer console.

  1. Login on https://play.google.com/apps/publish/?hl=en with your Google Play developer account. Please make sure that the account you're using to log in with has at least an Admin role. Any other role is insufficient to perform the required actions.

  2. Open your app from the App Overview page.

  3. Scroll down to the bottom the left-side menu and click App Content.

  4. Scroll through the list until you find the Data Safety options.

  5. Click Start to start the data safety questionnaire. Note: Manage will be displayed instead of the Start button if you've already completed the Data Safety questionnaire for this app.

  6. Now you see the Data Safety questionnaire. Read the information and click Next in the bottom-right corner of the screen to continue.

  7. Answer the first two questions with 'Yes'.

  8. Select whether users are able to create an account within your app, and if so, via what method. In the image above, the options are numbered 1 to 6. Each option is explained below, along with the corresponding login setting in AppMachine [Mail, Facebook, Google, Apple, Azure]. Select the option(s) that matches your apps functionality.

#DescriptionEnabled login setting(s)

1.

Users are able to register an account with their email address and a password of their own choosing.

Mail

2.

Users are able to register an account without a password, or via other authentication.

At least one of the following:

Facebook Google Apple Azure

3.

Users are able to register an account with their email address and a password of their own choosing, or via other authentication.

Mail And at least one of the following: Facebook Google Apple Azure

4.

Users are able to login via OAuth.

-

5.

Other

-

6.

Users are not able to register an account within the app.

-

  1. When you select that users are able to login to the app, then you'll also have to provide a link via which users can request their account to be deleted. If you don't have such a page, simply enter the URL of your website. Note: Although the account deletion option is present within the app when using AppMachine login settings, Google still requires a 'Delete account URL' to be entered.

  2. Select whether or not users are able to request their data to be deleted. If you select 'Yes', then you'll also have to provide a link via which users can submit their data-deletion request. This can be as simple as a product support page or contact form.

  3. Click Next in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

B. information per datatype

  1. Select all data types that are collected or shared by the app. Use Show to the right side of the data type group to select the specific data type(s). There are a number of data types which are collected by all apps created with AppMachine, which we will list below.

If you've added any custom functionality to the app through which data is collected or shared, then please make sure to also select the data types which are used for this functionality.

  • Location

All AppMachine Android apps use the 'Precise Location' for functionality like maps and location-based lock blocks also require the use of this permission.

  • Personal info

Whether or not you enable the checkboxes in this section depends on the functionality you've added to the app. For example, if the app contains a Contact Form through which personal information is provided, then enable the boxes for the information that the user can provide within the app. Additionally, if users can -or are required to- login to the app, then you'll have to check the boxes concerning the collection of names and email addresses.

  • Financial info

The 'Financial info' option in this section concerns payments which are handled through means other than a payment service. For example, if your app contains a manual payment option, then the 'Payment Info' option has to be checked. If your app uses PayPal checkouts, then you do not have to check this box, because these payments are handled by PayPal without you ever seeing the users payment information.

If your app collects or shares any other type of financial information from its users, then check the appropriate box(es) accordingly.

  • Health and fitness

If your app collects or shares any health or fitness related information of the user, for example medical records, symptoms, exercise or physical activity, then check the appropriate box(es) accordingly.

Health and fitness information is not collected or shared by AppMachine-created Android apps through standard functionality.

  • Messages

If your app collects or shares any information of the user related to messages, for example email, SMS/MMS, or other messaging data, then check the appropriate box(es) accordingly.

Messages data (Emails, SMS/MMS, or other forms of messaging) is not collected or shared by AppMachine-created Android apps through standard functionality.

  • Photos and videos

If your app collects or shares any photos and videos provided by the user, then check the appropriate box(es) accordingly. For example, if your app uses a Form block through which a photo can be uploaded.

  • Audio files

If your app collects or shares any audio related data provided by the user, for example voice recordings, music file uploads, or other audio files, then check the appropriate box(es) accordingly.

Audio related data is not collected or shared by AppMachine-created Android apps through standard functionality.

  • Files and docs

If your app collects or shares any file related data provided by the user, for example document uploads, then check the appropriate box(es) accordingly.

File related data is not collected or shared by AppMachine-created Android apps through standard functionality.

  • Calendar

If your app collects or shares any data related to the app users' calendar, then check this option.

Note that this does not concern a calendar / events block in the app, as this block only displays events created by the app developer. This only concerns collecting or sharing data belonging to the app user.

  • Contacts

Contact related data is not collected or shared by AppMachine-created Android apps through standard functionality.

  • App activity

All AppMachine-created Android apps track user interaction for analytic purposes. Within this section you'll have to select the options 'App interactions' and 'Other actions'.

  • Web browsing

Web browsing related data is not collected or shared by AppMachine-created Android apps through standard functionality.

  • App info and performance

All AppMachine-created Android apps track app performance for analytic purposes. Within this section you'll have to select the 'Crash logs' option.

  • Device or other IDs

All AppMachine-created Android apps support push notifications to be sent to the app user. In order to be able to do this, a Device ID is required. Therefor, within this section you'll have to select the 'Device or other IDs' option.

10. After selecting all the options applicable to your Android app, click Save in the bottom right corner then click Next.

C. answer questions per stap

11. On the next page, you'll have to answer questions on how data is used and handled for each of the options selected on the previous page. The data which is collected and shared by AppMachine by default is listed below.

Example: Click on the applicable items on the -> button.

12. Answer the question based on the tables below. Click Save in the right bottom corner. Open the next applicable item by clicking on show and the -> button

  • Location: Precise location

    Is this data collected, shared, or both?Collected

    Is this data processed ephemerally?

    No

    Is this data required for your app, or can users choose whether it's collected?

    Users can choose whether this data is collected.

    Why is this user data collected?

    App functionality Analytics

  • App info and performance: Crash logs

    Is this data collected, shared, or both?Collected

    Is this data processed ephemerally?

    No

    Is this data required for your app, or can users choose whether it's collected?

    Data collection is required.

    Why is this user data collected?

    Analytics

  • App activity: App interactions

    Is this data collected, shared, or both?Collected

    Is this data processed ephemerally?

    No

    Is this data required for your app, or can users choose whether it's collected?

    Data collection is required.

    Why is this user data collected?

    Analytics

  • App activity: Other actions

    Is this data collected, shared, or both?Collected

    Is this data processed ephemerally?

    No

    Is this data required for your app, or can users choose whether it's collected?

    Data collection is required.

    Why is this user data collected?

    Analytics

  • Device or other IDs

    Is this data collected, shared, or both?Collected

    Is this data processed ephemerally?

    No

    Is this data required for your app, or can users choose whether it's collected?

    Data collection is required.

    Why is this user data collected?

    App functionality Analytics Developer communications Account management ( only for User authentication)

All other data type collecting and sharing is dependant of whether you've added functionality to the app that requires the user to provide this information.

13. When you've finished providing the answers on how data is used and handled by your app, click Next in the bottom-right corner of the screen to continue to the Preview page.

14. On the Preview page, use the Save button in the bottom-right corner to complete the data safety questionnaire.

If you were in the process of creating your app for the first time at google, go back to this article to the step Set up your store listing.

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