Blocks submissionGoogle Play

Background location is used only for a core feature, disclosed, and declared in the console

What is checked This rule is decided by code from the built app and the listing: android.built.manifest, android.built.references, console.google.declarations.

Applies to every app

Checked from built, not yet uploaded, on a test track, submitted and in review, published

The rule, in our words

• Understanding location in the background permissions: Background location may be requested only for a feature that is core to the app's main purpose and gives users significant benefit (such as physical or perceived safety); requests solely for ads will be denied, location should never be requested solely for advertising or analytics, and location data may never be sold or shared to facilitate sale. The feature must be prominently described in the store listing. Approval goes through the Permissions Declaration Form in Play Console, declaring exactly one background-location feature, plus a video (recommended length 30 seconds or less) that must show the feature, the prominent disclosure and the runtime prompt. A prominent in-app disclosure dialog must appear in normal use before the location runtime prompt, must use the word "location", state that use is in the background or when the app is closed, list every feature using background location, and must also appear in the app description and website; no separate consent tap is needed because the runtime prompt that follows provides consent. A privacy policy that references location use must be available on an active non-PDF URL, linked both in the app and on the store listing. Without approval, updates may be blocked and the app removed.

Okkok never stores the stores' text. Each item above is our paraphrase, and the link is the page it rests on, verified unchanged by fingerprint on every run.

The other store

• Google requires a Permissions Declaration Form naming exactly one background feature, a video of 30 seconds or less, a prominent in-app disclosure that uses the word "location" and states background use before the runtime prompt, the same disclosure in the description and website, and a non-PDF policy URL linked in-app and on the listing; Apple requires in-app purpose explanation and consent only. Apple alone bans building emergency services or vehicle/aircraft control on location APIs. google-stricter
• Google mandates the pre-prompt dialog for background location with required wording ("location", background/closed); Apple leaves the screen optional and specifies its button design. partial

Check your app

pip install git+https://github.com/petresandu-cloud/okkok
okkok audit path/to/app

The report names this rule as google.background-location-is-core and says what to do, who does it, where, and how it knows.