socialrosiechen: Google can remotely remove applications from your Android phone

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Google can remotely remove applications from your Android phone

Google, in a fantastic case of counter-PR, has published a story detailing how it has the ability to remotely remove applications from an Android phone. It comes just a day after the sensational news that up to 20% of Android apps could be malware, and is obviously intended to showcase some of the meatier safeguards available on the Android platform.

The story details how the Android Security team removed two applications that broke the Android Market Terms of Service -- here's the clause in question:

2.4 From time to time, Google may discover a Product on the Market that violates the Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement or other legal agreements, laws, regulations or policies. You agree that in such an instance Google retains the right to remotely remove those applications from your Device at its sole discretion and without notice to you.

(Is 'from time to time' regular legalese?)

The story itself leaves a lot of questions unanswered -- are developers contacted before their app is removed? is the app's locally-stored data purged? -- but the point of it is clear: Google wants you to know that they have a firm reign on the Android Market. Erroneous apps will be exterminated.

I feel safer already!