{
  "slug": "google-play",
  "category": "app-stores",
  "name": "Google Play",
  "description": "Google's app store for Android, preinstalled on most Android devices. It distributes apps, games and in-app purchases and requires a Google account to install apps.",
  "website": "https://play.google.com",
  "license": null,
  "platforms": [
    "android",
    "web"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "US",
    "name": "United States",
    "eyes": "Five Eyes",
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": "provider"
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "F",
  "score": 4,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "Google Play scores 4 out of 100 (grade F) on the app stores criteria. It partly meets shows trackers and anti-features. It does not meet open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, independent audit and no account needed. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/app-stores/google-play/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/app-stores/google-play/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Closed source."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://policies.google.com/privacy",
      "note": "Google collects app activity and device data for analytics and advertising, and play.google.com loads Google Analytics."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/6247380?hl=en",
      "note": "Google Play shows paid app ads in search results and on the home page, and Google uses account activity for ad personalization."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "no_account_needed": {
      "title": "No account needed",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/2521798?hl=en",
      "note": "A Google account must be added to the device to download apps."
    },
    "tracker_info": {
      "title": "Shows trackers and anti-features",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/11416267?hl=en",
      "note": "Listings show a Data safety section, but its contents are self-reported by developers."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": null,
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T06:38:16.509Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T06:56:31Z"
}