Google to limit apps' access to other apps in Android

Google last month announced a new policy where it restricts mobile apps' access to other apps. For data providers, this functionality is used to profile users and create segments.

Starting this Summer, mobile apps in Android will only have access to other apps for device search. Antivirus apps, file managers, and browsers will also have access to other apps.

Weather apps will lose access to other apps. Google says visibility to the inventory of installed apps on a device must be directly related to the core purpose or core functionality that users access within an app.

Google also clarifies that app inventory data queried from Play-distributed apps may never be sold nor shared for analytics or ad monetization purposes.